Victoria, Texas - Former Victoria West High School Wrestling Coach James C. White Charged with Sexual Assault of a Child

Police Arrest Former Victoria Coach on Sexual Assault Warrant

On Thursday, Victoria sheriff's officers arrested a former Victoria West High School wrestling coach on a warrant for sexual assault of a child. 34-year-old James Christopher White was arrested by the Victoria County Sheriff's Office following an investigation into the alleged sexual assault of a 16-year-old female student.

Investigators say that White made inappropriate advances toward the student and sexually assaulted her.

White coached at both Victoria West and Victoria East High School. He was hired in August 2018 as a special education teacher and assistant coach. The alleged victim was a Victoria West student.

The school district contacted the sheriff's office on January 30 to report a suspected improper relationship between White and the student.

White was booked at the Victoria County Jail with bond set at $50,000. If convicted of the second-degree felony, he could face 2-20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

Legal Recourse for Survivors of Sexual Assault by Teachers and Coaches

Attorney contributor Marc Lenahan helps survivors of sexual abuse find the justice and financial compensation they deserve for the trauma they've suffered. Here are some of Marc's thoughts on the legal options available to survivors of sexual abuse involving teachers, coaches, and other school employees:

Anyone who pays attention to the news knows that schools in the United States have a serious problem with sexual predators. These predators often target schools and other workplaces that involve working with children. Our schools must be aware of these dangers and take preventative measures to make sure their students are safe from the threat of sexual violence.

In some cases of sexual abuse involving school employees, the school was negligent in a way that enabled the abuse to occur. For example, the school may have hired an employee with a history of sexual misconduct because they failed to run a background check. In cases of abuse that involve negligence, the victims and their families may have the right to file a lawsuit against the school district.

If your child has been sexually abused by a school employee, the first step should always be contacting law enforcement. We also advise discussing your legal options in the civil court system with an experienced sexual abuse survivors attorney.