Bamieh & Erickson Announces its Investigation Into Camarillo High School Associate Principal

VENTURA, Calif. - June 10, 2013 - PRLog -- Ventura, CA  June 10, 2013—Ron Bamieh of  Bamieh & Erickson, PLC, will conduct a press conference today at 5:00p.m. at the Law Offices of Bamieh & Erickson, 692. E. Thompson Street, Ventura, California.   Mr. Bamieh will discuss his firm's representation of several of Mr. Felix David Gallegos’ victims, and the investigation he has led, which has found a long history of abuse of female high school students by Mr. Gallegos, and that the Oxnard Union High School District was made aware of his propensity to abuse young girls years ago but nevertheless continued to employ Mr. Gallegos.  Mr. Gallegos, an Associate Principal at Adolfo Camarillo High School, was arrested June 5, 2013 on numerous criminal charges related to his inappropriate touching of a female student and an adult female staff member at Camarillo High.  

Bamieh and Erickson is representing crime victims of Mr. Gallegos to ensure their protection from Mr. Gallegos, and to advise them on their rights as victims of crimes.  Pursuant to its representation, Bamieh and Erickson conducted their own investigation into Mr. Gallegos, his history of sexual abuse of minors, the Oxnard Union High School District's tolerance of it and attempted cover of up of Mr. Gallegos’ prior crimes.

Ron Bamieh stated:  "We were approached four weeks ago by one of Ms. Gallegos’ victims, after she had already made a detailed statement to law enforcement.  Her family was concerned for her safety and the legal proceedings that they were told would occur.  They wanted advice from someone they trusted to protect their daughter.  Additionally the family was concerned Mr. Gallegos was still working, could hurt others and wanted our help in protecting other potential victims.  I immediately notified law enforcement of our involvement and during the last four weeks have provided information that we have obtained through our investigation to assist them in bringing Mr. Gallegos to justice.    

On our client's behalf, we have conducted our own independent investigation into Mr. Gallegos and the school district.  We have found the following:  

1.      Mr. Gallegos has engaged in inappropriate behavior with female students for years as a high school administrator;  

2.      The administration at Camarillo High School, including Principal Glenn Lipman, and the Oxnard Union High School District were made aware of Mr. Gallegos’ inappropriate behavior with high school female students at Camarillo High early in his tenure at the school when a parent of a female student made a complaint;  

3.      After being made aware of Mr. Gallegos’ inappropriate behavior with female students, the administration at Camarillo High School did nothing to protect their students from this sexual predator, and therefore allowed him to commit more crimes against high school students;  

4.      Mr. Gallegos worked at Hueneme High School prior to working at Camarillo High School.  Our evidence indicates there were several complaints made about Mr.Gallegos’ behavior with high school females when he was employed at Hueneme High and the School District reacted to these complaints by transferring/moving him to Camarillo High School.  The District's actions gave Mr. Gallegos the confidence to continue with his behavior.          

"We are aware of other female students who have been victimized by Mr. Gallegos—everything from inappropriate sexual comments about their appearance, dress and sexuality to fondling students in his office to attaching strings if they complied with his sexual demands.  Mr. Bamieh went on to state,  "I'm not sure what is more disgusting, the fact that a sexual predator like Mr. Gallegos was not stopped sooner or that the Oxnard Union High School District was made aware of the danger he presented and did nothing to protect their students. We know there are other girls out there who he abused, was inappropriate with, and has molested who have remained silent.  We encourage victims who have remained silent to come forward and speak to either the Sheriff's department or the District Attorney's office.  

Bamieh & Erickson, PLC, is conducting an extensive investigation into Mr. Gallegos’ conduct, complaints made to the District about Mr. Gallegos and the District’s response, if any.  “The District knew about this guy and did nothing for years; the District helped create additional and unnecessary victims.  The District is supposed to protect its students and they failed miserably when they continued to employ Mr. Gallegos.”  

Mr. Bamieh concluded, "At the press conference we will introduce the parent of a young lady who made a complaint about Mr. Gallegos last year.  She will describe how she was treated and how the district did not respond to her pleas to stop Mr. Gallegos.  She wants to speak to encourage other victims to come forward and to make sure Mr. Gallegos does not do this again."