Special Needs Student Sues Santa Barbara Unified Over Sexual Abuse at Dos Pueblos High School

Complaint alleges three former paraeducators sexually abused a teenage student during one-on-one hygiene care; a second former Dos Pueblos employee was arrested in the same week last May for unrelated child sex crimes

A teenage student at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, California, was sexually abused at school by people the Santa Barbara Unified School District paid to care for him, according to a civil complaint filed in Santa Barbara Superior Court. The complaint, filed by attorneys Steven A. Kronenberg and Anthony L. Label of The Veen Firm, LLP, brings eight causes of action including sexual battery, battery, negligent hiring and supervision, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The student, identified in court filings only as John Doe to protect his identity as a minor, has developmental and communication disabilities and is enrolled in the special education program at Dos Pueblos. The complaint alleges that he was repeatedly sexually abused by three former paraeducators while being assisted with toileting and hygiene in restroom facilities and other secluded areas of the campus, places his caregivers were trusted to be alone with him.

The named defendants are former Dos Pueblos special education employees Andrew Grimes, Andrew Mitchell, and Miguel “Michael” Angel Juarez. On May 8, 2025, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office arrested Juarez in a separate matter involving an adult victim and issued a public call for additional survivors and witnesses to come forward. Evidence that the student in this case had been abused at school came to light shortly thereafter.

“Three adults were trusted to be alone with a child who could not speak for himself, and they used that access to hurt him,” said Kronenberg. “These predators do this because they know it is hard for these children to be heard. That is exactly why we are speaking up.”

The case follows a pattern at one school. One day after defendant Juarez was arrested, on May 9, 2025, Sheriff’s detectives arrested Shaun Donald Hertlein, then a walk-on assistant freshman football coach at Dos Pueblos and a youth pastor at SouthCoast Church in Goleta. Hertlein pleaded guilty in October 2025 to felony possession of more than six hundred images of child sexual abuse material, was sentenced to two years in state prison, and is now a registered sex offender for life. Hertlein is not a defendant in the Doe matter. Following his arrest, the Santa Barbara Unified School District told families that “all school district employees go through a thorough background check.”

“Two former employees of the same school arrested for sex crimes in the same week is not a coincidence,” said Label. “It is a system that was not paying attention. The district told parents the staff were vetted. The complaint we filed says otherwise.”

The plaintiff suffered severe psychological and emotional injuries. He remains in the Santa Barbara Unified school system. The family has asked for privacy and is not available for press.

The Veen Firm complied with the California Government Tort Claims Act, presenting a claim to the District on October 22, 2025, amending it on November 13, 2025, and receiving a rejection on November 19, 2025. The civil action was filed within the deadline set by Government Code section 945.6.

Members of the public who believe they may have information relevant to this civil matter, or who believe their own family member may have been harmed at Dos Pueblos High School, may contact The Veen Firm. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office continues to seek information from potential survivors and witnesses related to the May 2025 arrest of defendant Juarez and may be reached at (805) 681-4171. You can find more details of the case at veenfirm.com/sexual-assault

The Veen Firm, LLP is a San Francisco-based trial firm that has recovered over $1 billion for catastrophically injured clients since 1975. https://www.veenfirm.com/