PRESS RELEASE

Date/Time:     February 22, 2022 / 6:40 PM
Incident:         PC 243.4/243.2 – Sexual Battery/ Sexual
Battery on School Grounds
Location:        2630 N. Linden Ave, Rialto CA 92377 (Carter High School)
Suspect:          17-year-old juvenile
Case Number:  932201826

Synopsis:
 
On Wednesday, February 16, 2022, at approximately 6:30 PM, the Rialto Police Department was notified of a sexual battery that occurred at Carter High School.  The initial report to police was that a 15-year-old female student had been sexually assaulted by a 17-year-old male student several times over the past three months.  When detectives investigated the allegations they learned there were two additional female students, ages 15 and 16, who were sexually assaulted by the same suspect. Although one of the victims first reported the assaults to school officials in September 2021, no notification was made to the Rialto Police Department until February 16^th.    
 
As soon as the Rialto Police Department was notified of the incidents, a criminal investigation was initiated and is still ongoing. The reason for the delay in reporting from school officials to the police department is also under investigation.  Detectives contacted the juvenile suspect who was issued a citation and released into the custody of his parents pending criminal charges being filed.  In addition, criminal charges have been recommended to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office for review regarding the failure of two school officials to report the incident in accordance with California State mandated reporting laws.      
 
The Rialto Police Department requests that anyone who may have information related to this incident please contact Lieutenant James Mills at (909) 820-2632. Witnesses can also anonymously report information through WeTip at (800) 782-7463.
 
Officer Amanda Deleon
(909) 440-4071
[email protected].