A lawsuit has been filed against the Fresno Unified School District, alleging that it failed to protect a high school student from sexual abuse by a teacher at Bullard High School. The plaintiff claims that Ray Waller, a photography teacher, engaged in a sexual relationship with her for several months on school grounds. Waller, 37, was arrested in February 2023 on numerous charges, including sexual conduct with a minor under the age of 16 and child molestation, according to the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office.
Waller faces a total of 38 charges at the state level and additional federal charges, including sexual exploitation of a minor and receipt of child sexual abuse images. The lawsuit asserts that the school district did not conduct a thorough background check on Waller, who allegedly lacked proper teaching credentials at the time he was hired.
Background of the Case
According to a spokesperson for Fresno Unified, Waller had obtained a career technical education teacher credential from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing in August 2024, prior to his hiring. The spokesperson stated that Waller underwent a Livescan background check by the Department of Justice and FBI in 2023, which returned clean results. Following his arrest, Waller was placed on a leave of absence, and his teaching credential was suspended in July 2023.
“The safety of our students is our top priority,” the district spokesperson said. “Waller received a clean background check, was not hired until obtaining his credential, and was placed on leave upon notice of his arrest.” Attempts to contact the plaintiff’s attorney, Jason Bell of Paboojian, Inc., were unsuccessful before publication.
Allegations in the Lawsuit
The lawsuit claims that Waller was allowed to be alone with the unnamed student, who was just 14 years old at the time. This allegedly resulted in a prolonged sexual relationship, with the student reportedly spending hours alone with Waller in a locked classroom. The lawsuit states, “The school saw (the student) leave Waller’s classroom on a daily basis at around 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., yet school staff never inquired with (the student) or Waller what they were doing in the classroom.”
Additionally, the legal complaint argues that the school did not properly supervise Waller’s interactions with students, creating an environment that lacked oversight. It highlights the absence of windows in the classroom, which would have allowed passersby to see inside. The lawsuit further alleges that Waller was not adequately trained or vetted for his position, raising serious concerns about the hiring and monitoring processes at the school.
If convicted on federal charges, Waller could face up to 30 years in prison, while state charges could lead to a potential 25-year sentence, according to a spokesperson for the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. The ongoing legal proceedings are expected to draw significant attention as they unfold, addressing both the alleged abuses and the responsibilities of educational institutions to safeguard their students.
