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Feb 2, 2022
A local 52-year old equestrian coach was arrested in Los Angeles last week on suspicion of molesting a 13-year-old student. The alleged sex crime occurred nearly three years ago in San Mateo County, according to law enforcement authorities.
San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office detectives obtained a felony warrant on two counts of child molestation for the suspect, Michael Traurig. The charges were reportedly in relation to a May 2019 incident.
The San Mateo Daily Journal reported that authorities launched an investigation in October of 2021. Through said investigation, officials learned that Traurig was alleged to have molested a 13-year-old girl on the 3600 block of Sand Hill Road in unincorporated San Mateo County.
Traurig was also charged with the sexual assault of an adult in Los Angeles County, according to the San Mateo Daily Journal report. Furthermore, the Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the suspect was mentioned in connection with additional sexual assault allegations that may have exceeded the statute of limitations.
Traurig was arrested on January 26 by Los Angeles law enforcement officials and San Mateo County Sheriff’s detectives. He was booked at the Los Angeles County Jail and was later transferred to San Mateo County for a court appearance. Traurig’s bail has reportedly been set at $1 million, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.
Law enforcement officials believe Traurig may have victimized additional survivors. The Mercury News reported that Lieutenant Jacob Trickett, who was involved in the investigation, expressed concern over the possibility that additional survivors have yet to be identified.
“Due to Traurig facing multiple allegations of sexual assault, there is concern for the potential other victims who may not yet have come forward,” Trickett said.
Anyone with information related to a sex crime committed by Michael Traurig is urged to contact Detective Carryn Barker of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office via:
Traurig was reportedly an equestrian coach for youths and adults in San Mateo and Los Angeles Counties.
The civil statute of limitations on California sex crimes differs depending on whether the survivor was an adult or child at the time of the incident.
As of January 1, 2019, the statute of limitations for adult sex crimes was extended from three years to 10 years. For adults, the standard statute of limitations on sexual assault or abuse cases is now 10 years from the date the crime occurred. However, an adult sexual assault survivor may also file a civil claim within three years from the date of discovering a psychological injury resulting from a sex crime.
For childhood sex crimes, the California statute of limitations is temporarily paused under Assembly Bill 218 (AB 218). AB 218, which took effect on January 1, 2020, tolls (pauses) the statute of limitations on all childhood sex crimes through the end of 2022.
In other words, all survivors of childhood sexual abuse or assault may currently file civil claims seeking financial compensation until December 31, 2022. However, as of January 1, 2023, the standard statute of limitations will resume, and survivors who did not file claims will likely be left without any legal recourse.
Additionally, California AB 218 includes a treble damages clause which gives the courts latitude to triple financial damages awards in cases where a cover-up is proven. For example, if you are a sexual abuse survivor who was victimized through a systemic cover-up (at either an individual or institutional level), and that malfeasance was able to be proven in court, a $1 million damages award could theoretically be increased to $3 million under the AB 218 treble damages clause.
AB 218’s treble damages clause was included in the legislation in an effort to severely punish bad actors who participated in systemic cover-ups, often over the course of several decades. Such cover-ups in organizations including the Boy Scouts of America and Catholic Church have impacted countless innocent survivors, but AB 218 offers all victims an opportunity at justice.
Survivors of sexual assault or abuse may file civil claims against perpetrators in pursuit of financial compensation. Civil lawsuits are separate from any criminal proceedings that may be brought against a sexual predator. A sexual assault civil lawsuit can be a means of obtaining justice and recovering critical financial compensation for survivors.
Some common damages that may be secured through a sexual assault civil lawsuit include:
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.
If you have questions regarding a sexual assault civil lawsuit, contact a member of Dordulian Law Group’s (DLG) SAJE Team today for a free and confidential consultation. DLG was founded by Sam Dordulian, a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County who obtained life sentences against some of our community’s most dangerous sexual predators.
Today, Dordulian and his experienced team of sexual assault lawyers help survivors secure justice and recover the maximum financial compensation they deserve. To date, DLG’s Los Angeles sex crime attorneys have helped clients recover more than $200,000,000 in settlements and verdicts.
To take the first step towards securing justice for your sexual assault claim, contact a member of our team today at 866-GO-SEE-SAM
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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