San Pedro H.S. Student Sues Teacher He Alleges Coerced Him Into Sexual Relationship
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A San Pedro High School student is suing his former teacher and the LAUSD for sexual abuse, breach of mandatory duty and negligence.
The plaintiff, identified only as John Doe, alleged Michelle Yeh drugged him and gave him alcohol in order to initiate a sexual relationship.
Yeh, 29, was sentenced to four years in prison Jan. 15 after pleading no contest to multiple felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from the molestation of at least three students.
The felony counts included engaging in sexual intercourse with a minor under 16, oral copulation of a minor under 16 and committing a lewd act on a child. She also pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count each of child molestation involving a 16-year-old boy.
She also violated a court order not to have any contact with the three teens. Prosecutors said she texted one of the victims.
The plaintiff's mother, identified as Mrs. Doe, filed the lawsuit on his behalf Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court.
The suit seeks unspecified damages.
An LAUSD spokeswoman did not reply to a City News Service request for comment.
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff, now 16, was 15 when he was abused by Yeh. The teacher, 28 at the time, was the boy's 10th-grade biology teacher, the suit states.
Yeh initially flirted with the teen and showed him favoritism, then escalated her conduct to sexual molestation, the suit alleges. According to the suit, she also took the teen on shopping trips (video games, tennis shoes an Xbox) and also took him to Disneyland and to restaurants.
"She also provided plaintiff with marijuana, alcohol and prescription drugs such as Xanax," the suit states. "After drinking alcohol and abusing drugs, Yeh would engage in sexual intercourse with John Doe."
Yeh began abusing the boy last May or June and continued to do so at school, in his home and at "other locations in the community" until the teen's mother learned of the teacher's misconduct when he confided in her on July 21, the suit states.
Yeh has caused "irreparable harm to John Doe," the suit states.
The complaint further alleges that the LAUSD was negligent in its supervision of Yeh and also in not properly overseeing the boy to make sure he was safe.
Yeh must register as a sex offender for the rest of her life after she is released from prison, according to the D.A.'s Office.
Yeh became a permanent substitute teacher in February 2015 and pursued relationships with several male students, according to prosecutors.