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Mar 8, 2023
A suspect connected with a string of sexual assaults which took place on the campus of Burbank High School has been arrested, according to multiple media outlets.
22-year-old Patrick Nazarian of Glendale, California, was taken into police custody and booked on felony counts of kidnapping and sexual assault. Nazarian’s arrest comes after three female students reported being “inappropriately touched” by the suspect, according to a report from local KTLA.
Around 9 a.m. on Monday morning, Burbank Police officials reportedly responded to the campus of Burbank High School located at 902 N. Third Street. Upon arriving at the scene, a 14-year-old victim told officers that she was “approached by a man she did not know” while using the restroom on campus.
“According to police, the man sexually assaulted the victim and then a short struggle ensued, after which the suspect fled the bathroom before being apprehended by school employees,” KTLA said.
Investigators also spoke with another 14-year-old girl and a 17-year-old girl, with both confirming that they had been “inappropriately touched” by Nazarian.
“Authorities were able to determine that Nazarian gained access to the campus through an unlocked door in the student parking lot,” KTLA reported.
Nazarian is being held in lieu of his bond that was set at $1.2 million, according to NBC 4. The suspect is expected to appear in court on Wednesday, March 8.
Nazarian reportedly graduated from Burbank High School in 2018. It was not clear whether he had obtained an attorney.
“The Burbank Unified School District takes this incident very seriously and will cooperate fully with the police investigation,” District Superintendent Matt Hill said in a statement. “We are also conducting an internal investigation into this matter. Keeping our students safe is of the utmost importance.”
Authorities are seeking the public’s assistance during their ongoing investigation. Anyone with information on a crime committed by Patrick Nazarian is asked to contact the Burbank Police Department Domestic and Family Crimes Unit at 818-238-3210.
In August 2022, a Riverside, California, man was arrested after allegedly jumping the fence of a local elementary school and attempting to sexually assault a girl inside of the building’s restroom.
Riverside Police officials confirmed that a campus supervisor saw a man come out of the girls bathroom and heard a girl crying inside. The campus supervisor then proceeded to follow the suspect, identified later as 32-year-old Logan Nighswonger, as he jumped other fences on the property and ran to the parking lot. Nighswonger reportedly proceeded to enter a vehicle and flee the scene.
The suspect was eventually apprehended, arrested, and booked on the following charges:
In October 2021, an LAPD investigation was launched after a female student reported being sexually assaulted in the bathroom of Hamilton High School in West Los Angeles.
The sexual assault was believed to have involved multiple male students, and Los Angeles Unified School District officials issued the following statement:
“At Los Angeles Unified, the well-being and safety of our students and staff is of paramount importance. An alleged incident occurred on the campus of Hamilton High School earlier this week potentially involving several students in the boy’s restroom… The school administration immediately and proactively began coordinating with the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles Unified School Police to investigate the issue. Our school crisis team was also activated and students were given an opportunity to speak to counselors about their concerns.”
Last month, we published a blog detailing troubling findings from a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study.
The CDC looked at the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the mental health and well-being of teenagers and confirmed that nearly three in five teen girls (roughly 57%) feel persistently sad or hopeless – the highest rate in a decade. And that feeling could be largely due to an exposure to sexual violence.
Additionally, the CDC study found that:
The CDC’s chief medical officer, Dr. Debra Houry, stated that she was disheartened by the steep rise, but not surprised.
“Sexual violence has been a pervasive problem among girls for quite some time,” Houry said. “We aren’t making the progress we need to.”
The complete findings from the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey can be found here.
Schools have a duty of care to keep students safe and protect them from sexual predators. This includes faculty who may harm students – teachers, principals, administrators, etc. – but schools must also provide proper security which ensures that outside predators do not enter campuses and harm children.
When schools fail to maintain a safe environment for children, negligence may lead to injuries including sexual assault. When such an incident occurs and negligence or carelessness was involved, a school sexual assault civil lawsuit with Dordulian Law Group (DLG) can be a means of recovering financial compensation for the victim.
Some of the damages that may be pursued and secured in a school sexual assault claim include:
To speak with a member of DLG’s SAJE Team (Sexual Assault Justice Experts), contact us today at 866-GO-SEE-SAM for a free and confidential consultation.
Founded by Sam Dordulian, a former sex crimes prosecutor in the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office and current member of RANN’s National Leadership Council, DLG offers survivors of sexual assault an unparalleled level of legal prowess, dedication, and proven results.
Our Sexual Assault Justice Experts are here to help survivors secure justice. Contact our top-rated attorneys online or by phone for a free consultation today.
Sam Dordulian and his team of sexual assault attorneys have helped countless survivors obtain multi-million dollar settlements for their claims. By securing maximized damages awards for our clients, they are able to move forward on their own terms with a sense of justice.
Contact us today at 866-GO-SEE-SAM to discuss your California school sexual assault case.
Sam Dordulian is an award-winning sexual abuse lawyer with over 25 years' experience helping survivors secure justice. As a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for L.A. County, he secured life sentences against countless sexual predators. Mr. Dordulian currently serves on the National Leadership Council for RAINN.
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