Feb 11, 2024
A principal at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Eastvale, California, was arrested Friday on suspicion of failure to report to law enforcement multiple claims of a teacher having inappropriate contact with students last year.
Dr. Greg Anderson, 44, of Eastvale, was arrested on suspicion of violating mandated reporter laws while serving as the principal of Eleanor Roosevelt High School, a press release from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said.
KTLA reported that the alleged violations were in connection with the November 2023 arrest of an Eleanor Roosevelt teacher, 44-year-old Chad Costello of Anaheim.
Law enforcement officials began investigating Costello in April 2023. As the investigation proceeded, the former Eleanor Roosevelt High School teacher was placed on administrative leave. He was eventually arrested on suspicion of child annoyance and sexual battery in November.
At the time of Costello’s arrest, Fox 11 reported:
“After thorough investigations, authorities concluded that Costello had engaged in inappropriate contact with students.”
Said investigation into Chad Costello led to a second investigation focused on whether or not mandated reporter laws were violated. The second investigation found evidence that Dr. Anderson failed to report any alleged incidents to law enforcement, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said.
KTLA confirmed that the Corona-Norco Unified School District acknowledged via statement that the arrest of Anderson would likely “raise concerns” within the school’s community, but noted that school officials were committed to providing a safe learning environment.
“The district has a longstanding commitment to adhering to mandated reporting procedures,” Corona-Norco Unified School District’s statement read.
“This situation underscores the importance of trust and accountability within our educational community. As such, we will conduct a thorough review of our existing protocols and procedures to ensure reporting requirements are clear and followed at all levels of the organization,” the statement added.
At the time of Costello’s arrest, school officials said the district would focus on training programs aimed at preventing and addressing matters of sexual abuse, though the Press-Enterprise reported it was not clear whether that “was referencing any problems related to any failure to report suspected abuse.”
Dr. Greg Anderson of Eastvale was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, district officials confirmed. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said that the investigation was ongoing, and no further details were currently available.
Anyone with information regarding the mandated reporter case involving Riverside principal Dr. Greg Anderson is encouraged to call Lead Investigator J. Andrade at 951-955-1701.
California mandated reporting is a legal requirement that ensures certain professionals and individuals report suspected or confirmed cases of child abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities.
California mandated reporters include all individuals who regularly interact with children in their occupation or profession. Teachers, healthcare professionals, social workers, and law enforcement officers are all included as mandated reporters in California.
If a mandated reporter suspects a child is being abused, neglected, or in danger, he or she is legally required to immediately notify Child Protective Services or law enforcement. If you fail to report suspected child abuse or neglect, you may face penalties and disciplinary actions.
California’s mandatory reporting laws were established to protect kids from harm and ensure that all reports of child abuse and neglect will be taken seriously and investigated promptly. Mandatory reporting is designed to protect vulnerable individuals – especially children and adults who are dependent on them – by requiring certain professionals to report suspected abuse to the appropriate authorities.
How Do I File a California School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
California is not the only state that has a mandatory reporting requirement. The Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act is a law that exists in all fifty states of the United States.
Sadly, one in six California children is the victim of abuse or neglect. Children who are mistreated have a higher risk of developing negative developmental, physical, and mental health outcomes.
Furthermore, the Committee on Child Maltreatment Research states that abuse and neglect can also have a significant impact on children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and brain development.
Many of these childhood sexual abuse victims will carry the trauma they experience into adulthood. Victims of abuse or neglect may develop psychiatric problems, addictions, serious medical conditions, or lower productivity as adults.
Under California law, child abuse is defined as any act that results in physical or emotional harm to a minor. Examples of child mistreatment include:
Physical abuse may entail:
Sexual abuse may entail:
Emotional abuse may entail:
If someone you care about has been victimized by child abuse or neglect, filing a civil claim with Dordulian Law Group’s experienced sexual abuse attorneys can be a means of securing justice as well as financial compensation for the harm endured.
In 2023, a report from Education Week found that countless school districts across the United States paid out major damages awards and settlements of $1 million or more the previous year for lawsuits related to sexual misconduct, crimes, and discrimination. The report noted that:
In 2022, numerous California school districts were ordered to pay damages or settled lawsuits stemming from allegations that administrators did not act swiftly to investigate employees accused of sexually abusing students:
If you are a survivor of school sexual assault or abuse, filing a civil claim with Dordulian Law Group (DLG) against your perpetrator can be a means of securing justice on your own terms and recovering the financial compensation you deserve. A civil lawsuit is separate from any criminal proceedings that may be brought against a sexual predator by the District Attorney’s Office.
By contacting DLG’s California school sex abuse attorneys for a free consultation, we will review your case and provide you with all available legal options. We will fight tirelessly to secure all applicable damages for past harm endured by a teacher, principal, counselor, coach, or clergy member:
Examples of recent California school sexual abuse settlements include:
What is School Sexual Abuse Under California Law?
To speak with an attorney about your school sexual abuse civil lawsuit, contact a member of DLG’s SAJE Team today for a free and confidential consultation by calling 866-GO-SEE-SAM.
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.
DLG was founded by Sam Dordulian, a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County with over 25 years’ experience which includes securing life sentences against some of the Los Angeles community’s most dangerous sex offenders.
California recently passed legislation known as the Justice for Survivors Act or AB 452. As of January 2024, California survivors of school sex abuse are no longer bound to any statute of limitations when bringing a civil claim for financial damages. If the abuse occurred after January 1, 2024, the survivor may sue – whether the defendant is an individual perpetrator or an institution like a school – at any time.
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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