YouTube sex abuse claim: Alhambra vice principal used manipulation
A woman who claims an Alhambra High School vice principal sexually abused her as a student said she went public on YouTube with the accusations to prevent other children from also allegedly being preyed upon.
The YouTube video, which went viral, shows a woman who identifies herself only as a former student named Jamie calling and recording the voice of a woman who identifies herself as Jamie’s former teacher.
The woman who said she was the former teacher does not deny the abuse allegations and expresses regret and disgust with herself, according to the recording.
In an exclusive interview with KTLA-TV, Jamie claims she was just 12 years old and attending middle school in Riverside when the former teacher started sexually molesting her.
“She just completely manipulated me into thinking that I needed her and I wanted it,” Jamie told KTLA.
Jamie said Monday she would seek legal action to ensure her alleged abuser never worked with children again. In a halting voice at a news conference Monday afternoon in front of Alhambra High School, Jamie alleged her former teacher molested her until she graduated from high school.
“She told me that my family didn’t love me. That nobody cared about me, that she was my only friend and the only person who cared about me,” said Jamie, flanked by her attorney and her fiance.
Alhambra Unified School District Superintendent Laura Tellez-Gagliano said school staff received an email with a link to the video on Friday and immediately reported it to the Alhambra Police Department.
Alhambra police contacted Jamie and verified the authenticity of her claims in the video before referring the complaint to the Riverside Police Department, according to a news release.
Later that day, Tellez-Gagliano said, Alhambra High School’s vice principal of student services, Andrea Cardosa, resigned.
Cardosa was hired less than four months ago, Tellez-Gagliano said. She had “stellar recommendations,” and the district completed a background check before hiring her, Tellez-Gagliano said.
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