BAKERSFIELD, CA. — Local attorney, Daniel Rodriguez, said he filed two civil lawsuits against the Kern High School District Thursday.
Attorney Rodriguez claims North High School knew of athletic trainer Edwin Rodriguez's alleged sexual misconduct with students months before reporting it to authorities.
Earlier this month, Edwin Rodriguez was charged with eight felony counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child 14 to 15 years old. The District Attorney's Office said there are at least 10 victims in this case.
According to attorney Rodriguez, one parent of a 15-year-old victim emailed the school in March of 2018 and said the 40-year-old trainer was being creepy and inappropriate with their daughter.
"That was the moment, right then and there, that they should have picked up the phone to tell CPS or the Sheriff's Office," said Rodriguez, attorney.
Five months later, the 15-year-old victim was allegedly sexually abused by the trainer.
In January of 2018, a 17-year-old victim said she told her counselor and the Dean of Students that the trainer was sending her obscene pictures over Snapchat.
"This man wasn't placed on paid administrative leave until September 2018, almost nine months later," said Rodriguez, attorney.
Educators are considered mandatory reporters and are required by law to report any child abuse to authorities.
However, the Kern High School District said they were first notified of the trainer's inappropriate behavior in September of 2018 -- which led to the investigation.
The district says employees with allegations against them are placed on paid leave immediately.
