From Newsgroup: alt.education
https://gvwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/FUSD-against-Fresno-Unified-from-a-sexual-abuse-victim_1280X720-1024x576.jpg
Authorities arrested Bullard High photography teacher Ray Waller for
having sex with an underage student. A lawsuit against the district says
the teacher was not adequately supervised.
A lawsuit from a purported sexual abuse victim says Fresno Unified did
not do enough to protect the high school student from a Bullard High
School photo teacher who allegedly had sex with her for months on school grounds.
In February, authorities arrested 37-year-old Ray Waller on dozens of
charges of sexual abuse. The Fresno County District Attorney has 38
charges against Waller, including sex with a minor under 16 years old
and child molestation.
Federal authorities have their own case against Waller, charging him
with sexual exploitation of a minor, receipt of child sexual abuse
images, and sending obscene material to a minor.
According to the victimrCOs lawsuit, Waller, who was a photography teacher
at Bullard High, did not yet have his teaching credentials and didnrCOt receive a thorough background check.
Waller Had Proper Credential: Fresno Unified
A Fresno Unified spokesperson, however, said the plaintiffrCOs claims regarding WallerrCOs credential and background check are false.
Waller received a career technical education teacher credential from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing in August 2024 before he
was hired, the spokesperson said. GV Wire was sent a copy of the credential.
In 2023, Waller underwent a Livescan by the Department of Justice and
FBI and it came back clean, according to the Fresno Unified
spokesperson. After receiving the arrest notification, the district put
Waller on a leave of absence. His credential was suspended in July.
rCLThe safety of our students is our top priority, and this process demonstrates procedures and safeguards are in place, as Waller received
a clean background check, was not hired until obtaining his credential
and was placed on leave upon notice of arrest,rCY the spokesperson said.
A call and email to the plaintiffrCOs attorney, Jason Bell of Paboojian,
Inc., were not returned before publication of this story.
School DidnrCOt Investigate Suspicious Activity: Lawsuit
The lawsuit claims Waller was allowed to be in the classroom alone with
the unnamed student, who was 14 years old at the time. The relationship allegedly went on for months, the lawsuit states.
rCLThe school allowed (the student) and Waller to be alone in WallerrCOs classroom at the school with the door locked for up to hours per day,
Monday through Friday,rCY the lawsuit states. rCLThe school saw (the
student) leave WallerrCOs classroom on a daily basis at around 4:30 p.m.
to 5:00 p.m. yet school staff never inquired with (the student) or
Waller what they were doing in the classroom or why (the student) was
still on campus.rCY
The lawsuit goes on to allege that the school and staff did not monitor
or supervise WallerrCOs interactions with students, creating an
rCLenvironment of no oversight or supervision that made it conducive to
molest and abuse the schoolrCOs students.rCY
If convicted by federal authorities, Waller could face between 15 and 30
years imprisonment. State charges could result in 25 years, according to
a Fresno County District AttorneyrCOs Office spokesperson.
https://gvwire.com/2025/11/10/fresno-unified-named-in-lawsuit-against-bullard-teacher-accused-of-sexual-abuse-on-campus/
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