Fresno Unified School District allowed a registered sex offender to become a volunteer sports coach and failed to investigate complaints made by student-athletes about the coach’s inappropriate conduct while he was coaching at Fresno High School, according to a recent claim.

The coach, Dusty William Lewis, was convicted of rape by force or fear in 2001 and released from prison in 2008. His convictions are publicly available through the Megan’s Law website.

A former softball player, a minor referred to as “claimant,” filed for damages against the district on Aug. 26.

A Look at the Claims

She asserts that Lewis initiated inappropriate physical contact with her. This includes “grabbing and moving her body under the guise of instruction.”

The “unwanted” and “frightening” conduct caused the claimant severe emotional distress, anxiety, humiliation, and trauma, according to the claim.

The claimant further alleges that she suffered psychological injury, forcing her to seek counseling and treatment, which disrupted her education and athletic career.

In addition, the claimant and others filed complaints about Lewis’s behavior with Fresno High coaches and administrators while he was coaching — including the principal, vice principal, and athletic director — the claim alleges. School officials dismissed the complaints and failed to investigate the matter, according to the document.

Lewis continued to have unsupervised access to female student-athletes at practices, games, and team activities, the claim states.

A district spokesperson said Fresno Unified is unable to comment on anticipated litigation.

The claim, buried in this week’s School Board consent agenda, was recommended to be denied and referred to the district’s Risk Management Department.

Fresno High area trustee, Andy Levine, did not return a request for comment made by GV Wire.

The Coach’s History

Fresno High coaches and administrators had knowledge of Lewis’s “violent felony convictions and sexual offenses,” according to the claim.

In 2012, not long after being discharged from parole, he was arrested after a slow chase with police, while a baby sat in the backseat of his car. Officers found a loaded handgun and two bags of hashish inside the car.

The claim accuses the school and district of negligent hiring, retention, and supervision of Lewis. Additionally, it states the district failed to comply with multiple education codes surrounding proper background checks and hiring procedures.

The claimant is seeking compensation for general damages, special damages, economic losses proven at trial, costs of suits, prejudgment interest, and any further relief the court deems proper.

It is not a limited civil case with claimant’s damages exceeding $25,000.

String of Sexual Misconduct in Fresno Unified

This is not an isolated incident — Fresno Unified has had a string of coaches and teachers charged recently with sexual misconduct.

This year, at least three Fresno Unified employees have been arrested on separate charges of sexual misconduct.

In July, Hoover High School’s interim boys’ soccer coach, Miguel Lara, was booked on possession of child sexual abuse material.

Related Story: Hoover High Coach Arrested on Child Porn Charges, Released on Bail

In May, a Fresno Unified substitute teacher, Carlos Gonzalez, was arrested for attempting to meet with a minor for sex. Fresno Unified immediately blocked Gonzalez from its system, according to a statement released by the district.

Fresno police arrested a Bullard High teacher, Ray Waller, on 10 counts in February. The allegations included sodomy with a person under 16 years old and using a minor to sell or produce pornography.

Related Story: Bullard Teacher Arrested for 10 Sex Felonies Involving Student