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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Track Coach Accused of Sexual Battery

LOS ANGELES (CN) - Seven college track athletes claim in court that they were booted off the team for complaining about their coach's sexual harassment.

Using only their initials, the women sued Mt. San Antonio College of Walnut, Calif., the San Antonio Community College District, and assistant head coach Carlos Moore.

They say that Moore sexually harassed and attacked them one month after they joined the college as freshman in August 2010.

"Beginning on or around August 2010, plaintiffs began attending Mt. SAC [San Antonio College] within district and also began participating as athletes on the women's track team," the 31-page complaint states. "During the period of approximately September 1, 2010 to March 15, 2012, plaintiffs were regularly and continuously subjected to sexual battery, sexual harassment and discrimination by defendant Moore and others, including District and defendants Joe Jennum, Doug Todd, Mike Goff, and Dr. Ernie Gregoire for their failure to take appropriate corrective measures."

Mt. San Antonio College Athletic Director Jennum, head coaches Dodd and Goff, and assistant coach Dr. Gregoire, are also named as defendants in the Superior Court complaint.

Moore allegedly made "harassing sexual comments," sexually propositioned the students, and inappropriately touched them on school grounds and during district-sponsored athletic events.

The coach "escalated his sexual harassment" over the phone and by text messages, according to the complaint.

"It is alleged that defendant Moore would falsely imprison plaintiffs and proceed to sexually harass and/or sexually assault them," the complaint states. "It is alleged that Moore lured plaintiffs into unsupervised areas on the grounds of Mt. SAC such that they were physically prevented from leaving his control by virtue of his coercive measures and threats."

Mt. San Antonio failed to fire Moore, despite "a history of engaging in inappropriate conduct against students at his prior places of employment," the women say.

Instead, they were each allegedly kicked off the team after they complained.

Named plaintiffs K.B., C.S., D.T., D.D., C.R., N.J. and S.F. are represented by Thomas Cifarelli of Irvine, Calif.

The women seek punitive damages for negligence, sexual harassment, retaliation, discrimination, emotional distress and other charges.

Mt. San Antonio spokeswoman Jill Dolan told Courthouse News that the school does not comment on ongoing litigation, but said the lawsuit had been forwarded to counsel for review.

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