Image Credit: Eva Pataki
(North County Beat) – A 12-year-old student has filed a lawsuit against a former staff member of Diegueño Middle School and the coastal North County school district, alleging molestation and various other causes, including intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence.
The lawsuit, lodged in San Diego Superior Court, targets the San Dieguito Union High School District and ex-campus supervisor Omar Hernandez Galeana, who is already facing criminal charges for the alleged sexual assault of the child in March.
Galeana was arraigned in Vista Superior Court on 12 charges, including two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14, a crime carrying a potential sentence of 15 years to life in prison. Other charges against Galeana include forcible lewd acts on a child and providing cannabis to a minor. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The district stated on Friday that it had not yet received the lawsuit and could not comment further except to confirm that once the allegations surfaced last spring, immediate action was taken to remove Galeana from his position. They have been cooperating with law enforcement to ensure the facts are gathered and justice is served. They also urged anyone with information about the case to contact the Sheriff’s Department’s Child Abuse Unit.
Galeana remains in custody, and it is unclear if he has secured legal representation for the civil case. His defense attorney for the criminal case has declined to comment. The lawsuit claims that school officials were aware of Galeana’s unusual interest in and excessive time spent with the girl and other children, and that he molested the child both on and off school premises.
It also claims Galeana boasted to the girl and other students about previous warnings from school staff for misconduct.
Morgan Stewart, the attorney representing the girl in the civil suit, stated that their investigation suggests people had reported Galeana’s inappropriate behavior with females. Galeana worked at the school for approximately three months.
During Galeana’s arraignment on March 27, the prosecutor revealed that Galeana had contacted multiple juveniles via WhatsApp, asking them to delete messages to avoid potential imprisonment. Galeana was arrested in March and is being held without bail.
He is scheduled for a hearing in the criminal case in October, pending his preliminary hearing to determine if there is sufficient evidence for trial.
