California school district buried rampant teacher sex abuse for years

El Monte Union High School District 'systemically' broke state laws surrounding child sex abuse claims, California AG says

Mar. 21, 2026 at 12:29am

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A Los Angeles-area school district 'consistently mishandled' rampant sex abuse complaints involving teachers and coaches — hiding reports that perverted staff were molesting, harassing, and grooming minors from state regulators, according to a seven-year investigation by the California Attorney General's office.

Why it matters

The findings highlight a toxic culture where sexual abuse and assault were swept under the rug, enabling predatory teachers and coaches to continue abusing students over the course of decades. The case raises concerns about the district's failure to protect students and properly report abuse allegations as required by state law.

The details

The investigation found that El Monte Union High School District 'systemically' broke state laws surrounding child sex abuse claims and botched as many as 113 abuse cases. This included a wrestling coach who repeatedly groped boys during practice and a special education teacher who molested and sent nude photos to an autistic girl. In five cases, staff failed to report abuse, allowing the perpetrators to continue abusing students.

  • The investigation was conducted between 2018 and 2025.
  • In 2013, wrestling coach Herbert Ortiz Monroy pleaded no contest to oral copulation of a minor and committing a lewd act on a child.
  • In 2024, nine former students at Rosemead High School sued the district, alleging they were abused by district employees.

The players

Rob Bonta

The California Attorney General who announced the findings of the seven-year investigation into the El Monte Union High School District.

Edward Zuniga

The Superintendent of El Monte Union High School District, who said the district remains committed to strengthening systems to support safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environments.

Herbert Ortiz Monroy

A wrestling coach at the district who was sentenced to prison in 2013 after pleading no contest to oral copulation of a minor and committing a lewd act on a child.

Edwin Reyes-Villegas

A special education teacher at the district who was accused of sexually harassing an autistic girl during and after school.

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What they’re saying

“In more than 100 cases, we found the district failed to conduct a legally compliant investigation' into sex abuse reports.”

— Rob Bonta, California Attorney General

“In five cases, where we did not find evidence that a staff member made the mandated report about sexual abuse of a student by another staff member, that staff member was able to continue to abuse the student and abused and harassed additional students.”

— Rob Bonta, California Attorney General

“At El Monte Union High School District, student safety and well-being remain our highest priorities. This agreement reflects our continued commitment to strengthening systems that support safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environments.”

— Edward Zuniga, Superintendent, El Monte Union High School District

What’s next

El Monte agreed to a legal settlement requiring state oversight for four years, officials said Friday.

The takeaway

This case highlights the failure of the El Monte Union High School District to protect students from predatory teachers and coaches, despite being legally required to report abuse allegations. It raises serious concerns about the district's toxic culture that enabled sexual abuse to continue unchecked for decades.