Jesus Anthony Magana, a youth soccer coach from Oxnard, California, was sentenced on October 19, 2022, to 155 years to life, plus 20 additional years for child molestation. According to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Magana’s crimes took place between 2013 and 2019, when he was a coach with the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO). The sentencing follows Magana’s conviction on September 7th on 4 counts of aggravated sexual assault of a minor, 5 counts of unlawful acts on a child 10 years or younger, and 7 counts of lewd acts on a child less than 14 years old.
Two other victims spoke during the trial, but it’s more than likely that many more victims are out there. Sadly, sports organizations are plagued with incidents of child sexual abuse, especially those involving youth sports. It’s easy for a sexual predator to volunteer or work for one of these organizations and gain access to children who respect and admire them. When a young athlete’s trust is violated in this manner, it’s essential to go after the responsible parties and hold them accountable for their actions.
Were you or your child sexually abused by Jesus Anthony Magana or another coach, mentor, or trusted adult? Legal actions are available to you, including a lawsuit for monetary damages, such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost income, mental anguish, and punitive damages. Our lawyers have decades of experience in child sexual assault cases involving schools and youth organizations. To learn more about your rights during a free case review, please contact us right away.
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What is Child Sexual Abuse?
Child sexual abuse refers to any sexual activity with a minor. It’s essential to note that minors (under 18 years old) cannot consent to sexual activity, so any form of sexual engagement with a child is a crime under California law. While this type of abuse includes physical acts, like sexual intercourse and molestation, child sexual assault can also refer to:
- Exposing oneself to a minor (exhibitionism)
- Masturbating in front of a minor, or encouraging / forcing them to masturbate
- Sexually explicit phone calls and texts
- IMs, DMs, and other forms of sexually graphic digital interaction
- Exposing a child to pornography and other sexual content
- Soliciting nudes / sexual images from a minor
- Sex trafficking of a minor
Essentially, any interaction of a sexual nature is prohibited between adults and children. But we know these acts occur far more frequently than we’d like to believe. According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), around 93% of all child sex abuse victims know their abuser. These people are typically family members, teachers, coaches, religious leaders, and various other adults that are loved and trusted by the victim. This makes it easy for sexual predators to manipulate the child and keep them from telling the truth. Even if the victim comes forward, the effects of sexual violence have lasting consequences.
The Effects of Child Sexual Assault
Sexual assault can cause many kinds of physical harm to a child, including bodily injuries, sexually transmitted infections, and unwanted pregnancy. However, victims also suffer from a wide array of emotional injuries, which can manifest in the following ways:
- Depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Sleeping disorders (insomnia, nightmares, etc.)
- Panic attacks
- Flashbacks
- Self-harm
- Suicidal thoughts / attempts
- Disassociation
- Substance abuse
- Eating disorders
Help is out there from doctors, licensed therapists, and organizations like RAINN (rainn.org or 800-656-4673). In addition, you have the right to demand compensation from those who caused your harm and suffering. To learn more about the lawsuit process as a victim of sexual abuse, please take some time to speak with one of our attorneys.
Who can I Sue if I was Sexually Abused by a Sports Coach?
You have the right to seek criminal prosecution, as well as monetary compensation from your abuser. But the perpetrator may not be the only party that’s liable in a case of child sexual abuse. Jesus Anthony Magana was a coach with AYSO for 6 years, which is how he had access to his victims. The American Youth Soccer Organization is a nationally recognized youth sports group with over 630,000 participants. AYSO is responsible for the safety and well-being of these children in many ways, including protective measures to keep them from sexual violence.
Though Magana is the actual abuser, you have to wonder:
- Was AYSO aware of sexual abuse incidents / allegations between Magana and his students?
- Was Magana properly screened prior to being hired by AYSO?
- If the organization was told about sexual abuse incidents, did they report it to the authorities?
- Have there been incidents of sexual abuse with other coaches that they were aware of, but chose to ignore / conceal?
Such acts of negligence are not unusual in organizations involving young athletes. Just look at the case of Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics, or the more recent accusations against USASF and USA Cheer (Jerry Harris case). According to lawsuits against these organizations, the people in charge were repeatedly told about acts of sexual abuse and harassment, yet nothing was done to protect the victims. Thus, if AYSO knew of, or suspected sexually inappropriate conduct by their employees, but failed to act on that knowledge, they may be sued for compensation, along with the actual perpetrator.
Liability in a case of child sexual assault is a complicated subject, so you must speak with a lawyer right away to understand your legal rights. Our law firm is here for you 24/7, so don’t hesitate to give us a call.
How long do I have to Sue for my Injuries?
California is one of most generous states when it comes to statute of limitations for child sexual assault. As of January 1, 2020, survivors of child sexual abuse have until their 40th birthday, or 5 years from discovering the effects of sexual abuse to file a lawsuit with the civil courts. Moreover, there is currently a three-year lookback window under Assembly Bill 218, which allows for the filing of cases that were previously expired. Thus, even if the statute of limitations ran out on your case as of January 1, 2020, you still have a chance to seek damages for your physical and emotional injuries. Please note, however, that the 3-year window expires on December 31, 2022. Please reach out to us right away to take action on a childhood sexual abuse claim.
Average Value of a Child Sexual Abuse Case
Case values for child sexual abuse can range between $1 million to $7.5 million, depending on many factors, including:
- The impact of the injuries on the victim’s life.
- The victim’s age at the time of the abuse
- The duration of abuse (number of months or years)
- If the perpetrator has been convicted / is facing criminal charges
- If other parties, like a sports organization, school, etc., share liability for the abuse.
- If gross negligence is involved (for ex, attempts to conceal or destroy evidence of sexual assault)
Gross negligence is a critical factor in these lawsuits, as they can result in punitive damages, which is a way for the courts to punish the defendant if their conduct was especially outrageous or harmful. If the defendant’s negligence includes a cover up, or “a concerted effort to hide evidence relating to childhood sexual assault,” they may be ordered to pay treble damages under California’s AB-218. This means a victim can be awarded three times their actual damages, which explains the high settlement values for many of these cases.
Timeline to Settle a Child Sexual Assault Lawsuit
Now that you have a sense of what can be recovered from one of these lawsuits, you may be asking yourself, “How long do these cases take to settle?”
Sometimes, we can achieve a fair settlement on behalf of the victim in just a few months. But other claims can take two or more years due to the number of complications that need to be resolved. A case timeline also depends on the other side’s cooperation, mainly, their willingness to offer a fair amount of compensation. As we previously mentioned, many survivors of child sexual abuse are entitled to $1 million or more due to the harm they’ve suffered. There is greater resistance from the defendant when case values reach this level, so the process of negotiating a settlement can take up to a year, perhaps a year and a half. If the other side continues to resist, it may take up to several years to recover your payment through a lawsuit.
Help from a Lawyer Experienced in Child Sexual Abuse
Our attorneys are here for you, no matter where you are in the legal process. If you haven’t filed a claim yet, we can sit down with you to discuss your rights and the legal actions that are available to you. We can also help if you have an active lawsuit, but you have concerns about the way your case is being handled. A second opinion is the best way to put your mind at ease if you’re not happy with your current lawyer or the lack of activity in your case.
During a free consultation, our attorneys can answer your questions and offer their expert advice to help you achieve the best possible outcome. If you’re interested in switching your lawyer based on our second opinion, we will get to work on transferring your case to our firm and settling your case as fast as possible. To take advantage of a free case review with one of our attorneys, contact us at your earliest convenience.
Contact Normandie Law Firm
We know the strength and courage it takes to come forward when you are a victim of childhood sexual assault. Hopefully, the recent prosecution of Jesus Anthony Magana will inspire more victims to seek the justice they deserve. Our lawyers are with you every step of the way, so please take the chance of reaching out to us at our office.
Our main goal is to fight for your rights, but we are aware of the financial burden that’s placed on sexual assault victims and their families. You should not have to pay for legal representation when someone else has harmed you, and that’s the guiding principle behind our Zero fee guarantee. You pay us nothing to work on your case and bring you the damages you are owed. At that point, we receive our fees directly from the at-fault party, meaning we don’t make a penny unless you do.
If you’re ready to explore your legal options with one of our attorneys, contact our law firm as soon as possible.
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