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Judge dismisses sexual abuse suit against MUSD, Former Superintendent
LA County Oct 25, 2022
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A judge Tuesday dismissed a complaint brought by a man who sued the Montebello Unified School District and a former superintendent, alleging the schools chief lured him into a sexual relationship in 2019 with promises of money, training and help in getting his U.S. citizenship.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maurice A. Leiter said he was taking the action because plaintiff Walther Medina was no longer participating in his own case. The judge’s decision was “without prejudice,” meaning the case can be revived later with a proper legal justification.
MUSD lawyers maintained in their court papers that any alleged relationship between Medina and then-Superintendent Anthony Martinez was “purely private,” but added, “Dr. Martinez has affirmatively denied plaintiff’s allegations in their entirety.”
According to the suit, beginning in March 2019, Martinez obtained the then-30-year-old Medina’s trust through promises of money, education and training. Other enticements included involving Medina in leadership programs and creating a class specifically for Medina, setting up a scholarship in his name and assisting him with getting his U.S. citizenship, the suit stated.
Martinez was “secretly planning to exploit the trust … as a means of forcing (Medina) to engage in a sexual relationship in an unlawful quid pro quo,” the suit alleged.
Medina told Martinez that he did not want a romantic relationship with him and demanded that the superintendent respond in kind, the suit stated.
“Martinez fraudulently told (the plaintiff) he did not expect a romantic relationship from Medina,” the suit states.
During the spring and summer of 2019, Martinez engaged in inappropriate touching of Medina in the superintendent’s office and in his home, according to the suit. Martinez also sent the plaintiff romantic messages and took photos of him, the suit alleged.
When Medina resisted Martinez’s alleged advances, the schools chief retaliated by showing up at his workplace and discussing the plaintiff’s family and education despite being told not to do so, the suit stated. Martinez also sent Medina repeated text messages, the suit stated.
The alleged harassment eventually forced Medina to leave the district and end his education, the suit stated.
