A renowned North Bay college prep school has released the findings of an independent investigation into sexual misconduct at the school dating back to the 1970s.
In a statement released Friday, The Branson School in Marin County said four former educators allegedly engaged in sexual misconduct with former students.
The 17-page report by San Francisco firm Covington & Burling LLP comes after three Branson School graduates went public last spring about their experiences while they were studying at the school in the 1970s.
The three former employees and volunteer who engaged in sexual misconduct toward students were identified as:
- Rusty Taylor, Director of Athletics and soccer coach, in the late 1970s
- Les Carroll, Director of Athletics, soccer and basketball coach, in the mid-to-late 1980s
- Rich Manoogian, volunteer basketball manager and assistant coach, in the late 1980s and early 1990s
- Alistair Grant, college counselor, in the early 2010s
One victim identified as “Student 1″ in the report told authorities she was 15-years-old when her soccer coach Rusty Taylor ‘”cornered her” at school, pinned her against the wall, and kissed her.” The victim said “Taylor continued to kiss and toucher her, including her breasts and buttocks, into her junior year.”
That same victim acknowledged that in December of that same year, Taylor ‘forced her into sexual intercourse and ‘rape[d]’ her.”
In another case, a victim identified as “Student 3” was also 15-years-old and on the soccer team when by the end of her junior year, Taylor “had kissed her… including at his home where he instructed her on how to perform oral sex on him and told her that it would ‘prove to be beneficial in the long run,’.”
The encounters of six victims are stated in the investigation report.
Branson officials say they have made additional reports to local law enforcement about each of the four named accusers.
Officials also note that they did not receive any information about adult sexual misconduct toward current Branson students or reports that any current Branson employee engaged in sexual misconduct with any students.
>> Click here to read the full report.
Officials say although the investigation is now closed, there may still be alumni who have not yet reported adult sexual abuse they experienced at Branson.
Any Branson graduate who wishes to make a report of adult sexual abuse can contact Michell Jones, Director of Human Resources, at 415-455-7126 or michelle_jones@branson.org.
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