A lawsuit filed by a former student claims that the Fresno Unified School District failed to protect her from sexual abuse by Ray Waller, a former photography teacher at Bullard High School. The lawsuit accuses Waller of engaging in a sexual relationship with the student for several months on school grounds. Authorities arrested Waller in February 2023 on multiple counts of sexual abuse, including charges related to sexual activity with a minor under the age of 16.
The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office has brought a total of 38 charges against the 37-year-old Waller. These include serious offenses such as child molestation and sexual exploitation of a minor. Federal authorities are also pursuing charges against him for receiving child sexual abuse images and sending obscene material to a minor.
Claims of Inadequate Oversight
The victim’s lawsuit alleges that Waller was permitted to be alone with the student, who was just 14 at the time, and that this access was facilitated by a lack of supervision from school staff. The lawsuit states that Waller and the student were often alone in a locked classroom for hours each day. It also notes that school personnel reportedly saw the student leaving Waller’s classroom daily around 4:30 p.m. but failed to inquire about their activities.
The document asserts that the school environment lacked necessary oversight, which allegedly allowed Waller to engage in inappropriate conduct without fear of detection. It further claims that Waller was inadequately trained and vetted before being placed in a classroom without windows, which would have made monitoring difficult.
A spokesperson for Fresno Unified School District has responded to the lawsuit, refuting the claims regarding Waller’s teaching credentials and background check. According to the spokesperson, Waller obtained a career technical education teacher credential from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing in August 2024, prior to his hiring. The spokesperson provided evidence of Waller’s credential and stated that he underwent a Livescan background check by the Department of Justice and FBI, which returned clear results.
The spokesperson emphasized that the safety of students is a top priority and noted that Waller was placed on a leave of absence immediately following the arrest notification. His teaching credentials were subsequently suspended in July 2023.
Potential Consequences for Waller
If convicted of federal charges, Waller could face between 15 and 30 years in prison. State charges may result in an additional sentence of up to 25 years, according to a spokesperson from the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office.
The lawsuit has drawn attention to the responsibility of educational institutions in safeguarding students. As legal proceedings unfold, the implications of this case could resonate beyond Fresno, prompting discussions about the protocols in place for monitoring teacher-student interactions in schools across the country.
Attempts to reach Jason Bell, the attorney representing the plaintiff, were unsuccessful prior to publication. The outcome of this lawsuit may have significant ramifications for both the victim and the Fresno Unified School District as the community grapples with the serious allegations.
