A woman who was sexually assaulted by a music teacher in Fullerton two decades ago has sued the instructor and the school district, her attorney said Tuesday.
The lawsuit was filed against Fullerton Joint Union School District July 10. The suit also named the former teacher Albert Anthony Morales, who pleaded no contest to oral copulation of an unconscious victim in 2013, said attorney Morgan Stewart.
The victim was 16 when she was sexually harassed and assaulted, Stewart said. She came forward to law enforcement in 2013 and decided after years of therapy to file the civil suit.
“Through a lot of therapy and recognition of harm it caused her she decided she wants to come forward and file her own claim,” Stewart said.
Morales would feed alcohol to the girl and sexually assault her when she was drunk or passed out when she was a student at Sunny Hills High School, the lawsuit alleged.
Morales taught band students and focused on percussion for 13 years, Stewart said.
Morales also taught or volunteered in other schools in Los Angeles and Orange County areas, Stewart said. Morales also worked at Diamond Ranch High School from 2012-2013 and Diamond Bar High School from 1998 to 2000, according to Stewart.
There were “rumors” Morales was involved in other inappropriate relationships, Stewart said.
“There were clear instances where there were things occurring on campus such as favoritism, grooming, behavior directed at” the former student who sued the school district, Stewart said.
A message left with the school district was not immediately returned.