Taylor & Ring Files Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against Benicia Unified School District

Taylor & Ring recently filed a lawsuit against the Benicia Unified School District and a former teacher, alleging the district was negligent in its hiring and supervising of 42-year-old Matthew Shelton, who is accused of sexually assaulting a Jane Doe during the 2022-2023 school year.

Per the Vallejo Sun, “Shelton was charged with five felony counts of lewd acts with a child in February for the allegations involving the victim in the lawsuit. Prosecutors added two additional counts last month that involved a second victim, who alleged abuse by Shelton in 2018 and 2019.”

They also note:

The case has alarmed parents with children in the school district, not only because Shelton was a trusted member of the teaching staff for years, but because he faced similar accusations at a previous job but was acquitted of criminal charges following a jury trial. It has raised questions about how well teachers are vetted, especially since after leaving Robert Semple amid a police investigation last year, Shelton was able to get another job at a nearby school district. (emphasis ours)

Brendan Gilbert, a partner at Taylor & Ring who is representing survivors of Shelton’s abuse, told the Sun he is disturbed that Shelton was able to remain in teaching positions for so long – “at various schools, various school districts for the past 15 to almost 20 years now. That’s concerning to me,” he says. “I have to believe there are other victims out there.”

Taylor & Ring is representing multiple victims of Matthew Shelton, and we expect more will come forward. If you or a loved one were sexually abused or assaulted by Shelton or any employee of Benicia Unified School District, we want to help you. Contact us in Los Angeles to learn more.

A history of sexual misconduct

The lawsuit alleges that the school district should have known that Shelton was “unfit to be a teacher,” noting that he was arrested in 2007 for allegations he sexually assaulted four female students while employed as a third-grade teacher at Phillips Edison Elementary school.

Ms. Doe alleges she was sexually assaulted in the fifth grade at Robert Semple in 2022. The Vallejo Sun reports that “the alleged abuse occurred at Shelton’s classroom during an after school program, among other locations.” She continues to suffer the after-effects of this assault, and has made “multiple attempts to take her life as a direct result of Shelton inappropriately touching and sexually abusing her.”

Says Doe’s mother, “It was hell. Absolute hell. That’s what it’s been like this entire time.”

Her father adds, “Everything seems to be set up to protect teachers over kids. There is some failing either in the way the district managed the situation, or the way schools are allowed to operate under the law that did not work. Something broke down.”

The suit also alleges that Shelton engaged in inappropriate conduct in December, as reported by another student. Neither the school nor Benicia Unified School District took any action to find out if there were more victims.

Shelton resigned from Benicia Unified in June of 2023, per the district superintendent. By July, he was employed at the West Contra Costa Unified School District. The district claims they conducted reference checks for Shelton at the time of his hire.

The Vallejo Sun also reports:

According to Wright, when West Contra Costa Unified reached out about Shelton in August, the district could not disclose the criminal investigation because Shelton had not been charged. Wright said the district “did not provide the former employee with a positive reference” but “simply confirmed his dates of employment, and positions.” He said that to his knowledge, no one from the Benicia school district administration spoke to anyone at West Contra Costa Unified prior to August 2023.

Ms. Doe’s father states he called the West Contra Costa Unified District offices to warn them about Shelton, and after confirming the case regarding Shelton and Benicia Unified School District, the school placed him on leave.

Shelton’s teaching credentials were not suspended until March 12, 2024, according to the Sun. This is more than two weeks after criminal charges were filed against him.

Billie-Jo Grant, president of McGrath Training Solutions and a lecturer at California Polytechnic State University who specializes in educator misconduct and prevention, notes that a study of more than 100 cases between 2000 and 2010 found that it takes more than 580 days for a convicted teacher’s license to be revoked by the Department of Education.

How our Los Angeles sexual abuse attorneys can help

At Taylor & Ring, we know that school is supposed to be a safe place for students. When teachers become a threat to your child’s safety, we step in to help. Our Los Angeles sexual abuse attorneys have secured the following verdicts and settlements for former clients, and we want to help your family, too:

• $102M verdict for two students who were sexually abused and groomed by their band teacher Samuel Neipp, a former music teacher at Dartmouth Middle School.
• $100M settlement for multiple plaintiffs in the Santa Monica PAL/Eric Uller abuse case where the City of Santa Monica covered up the abuse.
• $25.3M verdict for a 13-year-old boy who was abused almost daily by a supervisor at the Westerly School in Long Beach, California. Despite suspicions of abuse by one former employee, and incidents involving other teachers, none of this behavior is ever reported to the police.
• $25M verdictagainst the Santa Barbara Unified School District for John Doe #2, who testified that the abuse began when he was 14 years old in 2008, and continued until 2011.
• $14M settlement for two adult women sexually abused by their middle school teacher recovered the largest “per victim” settlement in the nation: $7 million each.
• $10.8M verdict for a boy who had been sexually abused by a teacher off school premises. The school district previously received an anonymous letter warning that the teacher was acting improperly with boys.
• $10M settlement in a sexual abuse case brought on behalf of a minor with special needs who was sexually abused by her bus driver. Jane Doe v. Lucia Mar Unified School District, et al.
• $7.9M settlement for a woman who was sexually abused by a teacher at Grover Cleveland Charter High School during her time as a student.

If your child suffered abuse at the hands of Matthew Shelton, or any other teacher, the attorneys at Taylor & Ring are here to help. We understand that sexual abuse is an unconscionable act and want you and your family to secure justice for your damages and losses. Remember, you are never alone – we are here to listen and act on your behalf. Contact Taylor & Ring today by calling us or using our contact form to set up a free consultation with a compassionate attorney. We have offices in Los Angeles and Manhattan Beach. We also proudly serve all of Southern California.