Dusty William Lewis, who was recently accused of unwanted touching under the guise of coaching by a former Fresno High School girls softball player, has an extensive criminal record that is readily available online.

Lewis, a registered sex offender convicted of rape by force or fear in 2001, was sentenced in 2014 to four years in prison for fleeing a peace officer, sale or transportation of marijuana, possession of firearm by a felon, and possession of ammunition by person prohibited from owning a firearm.

In addition, he recently was charged with unlawfully entering a school site as a sex offender.

Lewis’s convictions were listed through the Megan’s Law website and publicly available on the Superior Court of California, Count of Fresno website.

Fresno Unified requires all volunteers to be fingerprinted, according to district spokesperson, A.J. Kato. This process should inform the district of any criminal record for prospective volunteers.

GV Wire also asked if the district had ever employed Lewis as a coach. Kato said that GV Wire would have to file a Public Records Act request to learn that information. GV Wire has filed such a request.

The Claimant’s Allegations

GV Wire cannot confirm how long Lewis was involved in the Fresno High softball program or when. But he was there long enough to allegedly cause psychological harm to at least one student-athlete.

A former softball player filed a claim against the district alleging negligent hiring, retention, and supervision of Lewis. In the claim, the student stated that she attended Fresno High from 2021 through 2025.

Lewis inappropriately touched the claimant, “grabbing and moving her body under the guise of instruction,” according to the allegations.

Furthermore, the claim asserts that the claimant and others filed complaints about Lewis’s “frightening” conduct with the coaching staff, principal, vice principal, and athletic director.

The administration dismissed these complaints and Lewis continued to have access to the students, the claim filed on Aug. 26 alleged.

District staff pulled the claim from the School Board consent agenda Wednesday night. District spokesperson AJ Kato and Trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas confirmed that the item will be presented at another meeting but could not confirm when that would be.

Originally, the claim, buried in the consent agenda, was recommended to be denied and referred to the district’s Risk Management Department.

Lewis Involved in Two Active Criminal Court Cases

Lewis has a history of run-ins with the law and two pending court cases.

On July 10, Lewis was arrested for inflicting corporal injury on spouse/cohabitant and disrupting school activities.

The district attorney charged him with unlawful entry of school building or grounds by a sex offender. A pre-trial meeting is set for Dec. 4.

In a separate trial, Lewis faces seven counts. Among them: corporal injury on spouse/cohabitant, assault with a firearm, criminal threat, and possession of a firearm by a felon. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

These charges were originally brought against Lewis in 2022, and he has been involved in a lengthy legal battle since.

A settlement conference is scheduled for Dec. 4.