Hesperia High School wrestling coach arrested in child sex investigation

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys in the United States experience childhood sexual abuse — and most perpetrators are known and trusted figures in the child’s life. On May 9, 2026, Hesperia High School wrestling coach Gene Richard Griffith III was arrested by the Hesperia Police Department on suspicion of child sexual abuse, according to published reports. For families throughout San Bernardino County and Southern California, this arrest raises urgent legal questions about what survivors can do and what accountability looks like under California law.

At Compass Law Group, LLP, our Beverly Hills sexual abuse attorneys represent survivors of institutional sexual abuse — including abuse by school employees, coaches, and other authority figures. We are here to explain your rights and options under California law.

Source: Compass Law Group | Child Sexual Abuse Investigation | Hesperia, CA

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What Criminal Charges Does Gene Richard Griffith III Face?

Gene Richard Griffith III, a wrestling coach employed at Hesperia High School in the Hesperia Unified School District, was arrested by Hesperia Police on May 9, 2026, in connection with a child sexual abuse investigation. The arrest follows a law enforcement investigation into alleged sexual misconduct involving minor students.

Under California Penal Code §288, lewd or lascivious acts upon a child under 14 years of age constitute a felony offense. Conduct involving minors between 14 and 17 may be charged under related provisions depending on the circumstances. Criminal charges in these cases can carry significant prison sentences and mandatory sex offender registration under Penal Code §290.

It is important to understand that criminal prosecution and civil liability are separate legal processes. Even while a criminal case proceeds — or regardless of its outcome — survivors retain the right to file a civil lawsuit seeking financial compensation for the harm they suffered. A criminal conviction can strengthen a civil case, but is not required to pursue compensation.

• California Penal Code §288 — lewd acts with a minor under 14, felony with state prison sentence
• Penal Code §288.5 — continuous sexual abuse of a child, multiple incidents over three months or more
• Penal Code §290 — mandatory sex offender registration upon conviction
• Penal Code §11166 — mandated reporter obligation requiring school employees to report suspected abuse
• Civil liability runs parallel to criminal charges — civil cases have a lower burden of proof (preponderance of evidence)
• Criminal conviction is not required to win a civil sexual abuse lawsuit
• Punitive damages may be available in civil cases where the conduct was malicious, oppressive, or fraudulent

Can Victims Sue Hesperia Unified School District for the Coach’s Abuse?

Yes. Under California law, Hesperia Unified School District may be held civilly liable under multiple legal theories beyond the individual criminal acts of Griffith. School districts have a non-delegable duty to protect students in their care, and that duty extends to the supervision and oversight of all employees who interact with children.

Claims against the district may include negligent hiring — failing to conduct adequate background checks before employing Griffith — as well as negligent supervision, which holds the district responsible for failing to adequately monitor his conduct and respond to any warning signs. California courts have long recognized that institutional defendants who enable abuse through systemic failures share responsibility for the resulting harm.

There is one procedural requirement that families pursuing claims against a public school district must observe: the California Government Claims Act (Government Code §910) generally requires that a tort claim be presented to the governmental entity within six months of the incident. However, this requirement interacts with the expanded statute of limitations under AB 218 and CCP §340.1 in complex ways. An experienced sexual abuse attorney should be consulted immediately to preserve all available options.

Our Los Angeles sexual abuse attorneys and Long Beach sexual abuse lawyers routinely handle cases involving public institutional defendants.

What Is AB 218 and How Does It Protect Survivors?

AB 218, signed into California law in 2019, is one of the most significant expansions of survivor rights in the state’s history. The legislation amended California Code of Civil Procedure §340.1 to eliminate the statute of limitations for civil childhood sexual abuse claims against institutional defendants — including school districts, churches, youth organizations, and any other institution that employed or supervised the abuser.

Before AB 218, survivors of childhood sexual abuse faced a statute of limitations that often expired long before they were psychologically ready to come forward — or even before they fully understood that what happened to them was abuse. AB 218 corrected this injustice by giving survivors a perpetual right to file civil claims against institutions like school districts.

Additionally, AB 2777 created a special revival window allowing survivors to revive previously time-barred claims specifically against institutional defendants for conduct that occurred on or after January 1, 2009. This revival window is critical: it closes permanently on December 31, 2026.

What Compensation Can Sexual Abuse Survivors Recover in California?

California civil law allows survivors of sexual abuse by school employees to pursue comprehensive financial compensation for the full scope of harm they suffered. Unlike criminal cases, which focus on punishing the perpetrator, a civil lawsuit is about making the survivor whole and holding accountable every party whose negligence contributed to the abuse.

Compensation in California sexual abuse civil cases typically includes:

• Medical expenses — current and future costs of treatment related to the abuse
• Psychological therapy and counseling — long-term mental health treatment, PTSD therapy, trauma-focused care
• Lost earnings and earning capacity — documented economic impact on the survivor’s career and future income
• Pain and suffering — physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium — harm to family relationships caused by the abuse and its aftermath
• Punitive damages — additional damages designed to punish especially egregious or malicious conduct
• Past and future educational disruption — impact on academic performance and educational opportunities

Compass Law Group has recovered over $250 million for clients in personal injury and civil cases across California. Our sexual abuse attorneys work on a contingency basis — no fees unless we win.

By the Numbers: Child Sexual Abuse in California Schools

Child sexual abuse statistics in California. Source: CDC, RAINN, California AB 218.

Understanding the scope of this problem is important context for why California enacted AB 218 and why civil lawsuits against institutions matter. These are not isolated incidents — they reflect systemic failures that the legal system is now being used to correct.

According to the CDC and national research organizations including RAINN:

• 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys in the United States experience childhood sexual abuse
• The majority of child sexual abuse perpetrators are known to the child — coaches, teachers, and other trusted authority figures
• Only a fraction of childhood sexual abuse cases are reported to law enforcement at the time they occur
• AB 218 was enacted specifically to address the gap between the time abuse occurs and when survivors are ready and able to come forward
• The December 31, 2026 AB 2777 revival deadline is the most time-sensitive legal obligation for institutional abuse survivors in California history

Steps to Take After a Child Sexual Abuse Disclosure

1. Believe and support your child. The single most important thing a parent can do is respond with belief and calm support. Avoid expressing shock or anger in front of the child — focus entirely on their safety and emotional wellbeing.
2. Report to law enforcement immediately. Contact the Hesperia Police Department or San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to report the abuse. A law enforcement report creates an official record that is essential to both criminal prosecution and civil litigation.
3. Seek medical evaluation and documentation. Take your child to a pediatrician, hospital, or child abuse medical specialist. Medical records documenting the physical and psychological effects of abuse are critical evidence in civil cases.
4. Do not contact the school or district directly. Before speaking with school administrators, the district’s risk management office, or their attorneys, consult with an independent sexual abuse attorney. Anything you say to the district could be used against you later.
5. Preserve all evidence and communications. Save any text messages, emails, notes, or other communications your child had with Griffith. Do not delete or alter anything. Document your child’s behavioral changes since the abuse with dates and details.
6. Get your child into trauma-focused therapy. Connect with a licensed therapist who specializes in childhood sexual trauma. Therapeutic treatment is essential for recovery — and therapy records also document the ongoing harm in a civil case.
7. Consult a California sexual abuse attorney without delay. The Government Claims Act (Gov. Code §910) requires presenting a claim to a public school district within six months of the incident. Do not wait. Call Compass Law Group at (213) 320-1001 for a free, confidential consultation.

How Compass Law Group Builds Your Sexual Abuse Case

Sexual abuse civil cases involving school employees require a specialized investigative approach that goes beyond what law enforcement does in a criminal case. At Compass Law Group, our attorneys conduct an independent investigation of Hesperia Unified School District’s hiring, supervision, and retention practices — gathering personnel records, background check documentation, prior complaint files, and internal communications that may reveal whether the district knew or should have known about Griffith’s conduct.

We work with forensic experts, mental health professionals, and economic damages specialists to build a comprehensive damages case that accounts for the full lifetime impact on your child — including educational disruption, long-term therapy needs, and future earning capacity. Every case we take is handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning you never pay anything out of pocket and we only get paid when we win.

Our firm has locations serving Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, and Bell Gardens. We represent survivors throughout Southern California, including San Bernardino County families affected by the Hesperia High School investigation.

Source: Compass Law Group | Sexual Abuse Legal Support | Los Angeles, CA

References

1. California Code of Civil Procedure §340.1 — AB 218 (Childhood Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations)
2. RAINN: Statistics on Child Sexual Abuse
3. California Penal Code §288 — Lewd or Lascivious Acts with a Minor

Joseph Shirazi

Managing Partner — Compass Law Group, LLP

California State Bar #265403

Joseph Shirazi has recovered over $250 million for personal injury and civil rights clients throughout California. He leads Compass Law Group’s sexual abuse practice and represents survivors of institutional abuse statewide. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is unique.