Former NFL Player Shares Allegations of Sexual Assault by Trainer
Former NFL player Shareece Wright has come forward as one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit accusing a former high school athletic trainer of sexual assault. Wright hopes that speaking out will prevent further abuse from happening to other children.
Allegations of Sexual Assault
Former NFL player Shareece Wright has identified himself as one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit accusing a former high school athletic trainer of sexually assaulting minors. Wright hopes that by speaking out, he can prevent similar abuse from happening to other children.
Wright, along with five other former Colton High School football players, originally filed the lawsuit against the Colton Joint Unified School District and former athletic trainer Tiffany Strauss-Gordon. The number of plaintiffs has since grown to 12.
Wright alleges that during his time at Colton, Strauss-Gordon engaged in inappropriate behavior, including touching him inappropriately and engaging in sexual acts. He also claims that there was an environment conducive to covering up such abuse, with the involvement of the coach's daughter and a permissive school environment.
Denials and Lack of Charges
Strauss-Gordon, who has been suspended by the district since 2022, has denied the allegations raised in the lawsuit and has not been charged criminally. The San Bernardino County District Attorney's office did not file charges due to a lack of sufficient evidence.
Wright's attorney, Morgan Stewart, has stated that an FBI agent and a Department of Justice attorney expressed concerns about the statute of limitations during an interview with one of his clients. The FBI declined to comment on whether an investigation is ongoing.
Despite allegations being made against Strauss-Gordon as far back as 2011, school officials did not take decisive action at the time. A police report obtained by ESPN indicates that officials were aware of the allegations, but no further investigation was conducted.
Coming Forward and Seeking Justice
Wright decided to come forward about his experiences only three years ago when he confided in his mother. Concerns for his own children and other children in public schools motivated him to speak out publicly.
He hopes that by sharing his story, he can encourage others to speak up about their experiences and help prevent future abuse. Wright wants to create a more comfortable environment for people to address such issues and seek justice.
As the lawsuit progresses, Wright and the other plaintiffs are seeking accountability for the alleged abuse and hope to prevent similar incidents from occurring in other schools and sports programs.
