A civil lawsuit newly filed in Sacramento Superior Court accuses longtime Sacramento City Unified School District teacher Mark Stephen Sirard of grooming and sexually abusing a former student while he was an English teacher at Leonardo Da Vinci K‑8. The anonymous former student alleges the abuse started when they were 11 years old and continued while they were in Sirard’s class between 2009 and 2011. Sirard, who has been employed by the district since 1999, previously came under criminal investigation and was arrested on suspicion of possessing child sexual abuse material. The suit also contends district officials brushed aside or hid red flags when concerns first surfaced.
What the lawsuit alleges
According to a complaint described by The Sacramento Bee, the former student says Sirard drew them into a pattern of sexual abuse that included forcing the child to watch pornography, engage in mutual masturbation, and both perform and receive oral sex. The alleged abuse began in Sirard’s seventh and eighth grade English language arts class, and some incidents reportedly occurred on school grounds. Attorneys for the plaintiff argue this amounted to years of grooming and claim district officials failed to intervene when early warning signs appeared.
How the criminal probe began
Law enforcement officials say the criminal case originated from online activity that led to an undercover exchange and digital forensics tying that activity to devices associated with Sirard, according to reporting by KCRA. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations arrested Sirard in November 2024 on suspicion of possessing child sexual abuse material. He was booked in jail on $50,000 bail, then released after posting bond. Investigators say the case remains active as they look for additional information.
What investigators say they found
Search warrant records reviewed by The Sacramento Bee indicate that searches of Sirard’s home and classroom in May 2024 allegedly turned up hundreds of images and videos, including material investigators classified as child sexual abuse, along with thousands more files described as age ambiguous erotica. The Bee reports that undercover officers also received several “proof of life” photos during the operation, later confirmed to have been taken inside his classroom. These digital discoveries are now referenced in both the criminal investigation and the civil lawsuit.
District response and Sirard’s background
Sacramento City Unified School District placed Sirard on administrative leave after it was notified by law enforcement about the criminal investigation. A district representative confirmed he had been a teacher in the district since 1999, according to local coverage. The district said in a statement that it is cooperating with investigators and that student safety is its priority, as reported by KCRA. The civil lawsuit, filed this month, seeks financial damages and claims the district “ignored and concealed” prior allegations. The district has not admitted to those claims in any public filings to date.
Legal next steps
The civil case is set to move forward in Sacramento Superior Court, a process that could stretch over months as attorneys exchange evidence, conduct depositions, and argue motions. Lawyers for the plaintiff say they intend to seek internal records and to determine whether other students may come forward with similar accounts. The criminal case remains under investigation and will go through prosecutorial review before any charges beyond last year’s possession allegation are considered, according to local reporting from CBS Sacramento. Sirard has not been convicted of the abuse allegations at this time, and court records so far do not show a detailed public response from his attorney.
Why investigators and parents are concerned
Authorities say their concern is heightened because Sirard’s position gave him sustained access to children and because digital evidence can both expose and obscure broader patterns of abuse. Legal experts note that cases that begin as possession or distribution investigations sometimes widen if forensic analysis and witness statements point to previously unreported victims, according to coverage of similar cases. The combination of the new civil complaint and the ongoing criminal probe has parents and advocacy groups in Sacramento renewing demands for transparency and stronger safeguards in local schools.
How to report tips and where to get help
Anyone with information about Sirard, the allegations in the lawsuit, or related conduct is asked to contact the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 916-874-3002. Survivors seeking support can reach out to local victim assistance services through the Sacramento County Victim Services Bureau, or use national resources such as the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline. Court filings in the civil case are public records available through Sacramento Superior Court for those who want to review the case materials in detail.
