Parents of a former Memorial Middle School student have filed a civil lawsuit accusing Las Vegas City Schools, Principal Christina Gonzales and a former boys varsity coach of failing to protect a 13-year-old after she says he sexually assaulted her on campus. The complaint, filed in Las Vegas District Court on October 15, alleges district officials ignored prior warning signs and did not notify law enforcement or the state Children, Youth and Families Department. Plaintiffs are seeking financial and punitive damages and say the school's response violated the student's constitutional rights.
Lawsuit lays out the district's alleged failures
As reported by Las Vegas Optic, the complaint names Las Vegas City Schools, Principal Christina Gonzales and coach James I. Branch and says school officials attempted to downplay the incident rather than follow mandated reporting procedures. The filing also says court records showed the defendants had not been served and no hearings were scheduled at the time of reporting. The suit asks a jury for damages and punitive relief.
Arrest and criminal charges
Las Vegas police began an investigation after the girl's parents reported the encounter, and Branch was later arrested on felony counts, according to KOAT. KOAT reports the charges — criminal sexual contact of a minor by a person in a position of authority and false imprisonment — were filed on February 21, and that LVCS placed Branch on administrative leave on January 24 ahead of a varsity game. Local outlet KOB also covered the arrest and the school's response to the student's initial report.
Complaint cites technology logs and staff response
The complaint, as noted by Las Vegas Optic, alleges district IT monitoring flagged explicit search terms on a district-issued laptop at least a year before criminal charges were filed. Plaintiffs say a school counselor failed to contact law enforcement as New Mexico law requires and blamed the student for entering the classroom alone. Those allegations form the core of the lawsuit's claim that district officials knew or should have known about ongoing risks.
State law and mandatory reporting
New Mexico's Children's Code requires teachers and school officials to report suspected child abuse to authorities, a duty affirmed by the New Mexico Supreme Court in State v. Strauch. That statutory backdrop is central to the plaintiffs' argument that the district failed to meet its legal obligations; whether the district's actions amount to civil liability will be decided in court. The complaint frames the alleged failures as both procedural lapses and constitutional violations.
Next steps and local context
The civil case is in its early stages and will proceed through Las Vegas District Court as service and motions move forward. The lawsuit follows earlier litigation involving Las Vegas City Schools — for example, KOAT reported a 2023 suit that accused another Memorial Middle School teacher of an improper relationship with a student — underscoring repeated legal challenges for the district. Court filings and scheduled hearings will determine when the complaint moves toward a trial.
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