News Releases

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced that Richard Turner was charged today for sexually assaulting 10 girls while he worked at two schools in Los Angeles.

“A school is a place where our children should feel safe and protected by those who we are supposed to trust,” District Attorney Gascón said. “It is crushing for the victims’ families and our education system when someone takes advantage of a youth.

I am grateful for the young women who stepped forward in this case to recount what happened to them. My office’s Bureau of Victim Services will provide any needed services or resources to help them on the path from being a victim to becoming a survivor.”

Turner (dob 6/20/58) was charged in case LA097786 with six counts each of sexual penetration by use of force and sexual battery, four counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person and one count each of forcible rape and forcible oral copulation.

He is expected to be arraigned today in Department 100 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Van Nuys Branch.

The defendant worked as a trainer at two schools in the San Fernando Valley – Van Nuys High School and Birmingham Community Charter School. Between 2017 and this year, Turner allegedly sexually assaulted 10 student athletes who were seeking rehabilitation or recovery from playing sports.

Some of the alleged assaults occurred on campus, while other incidents happened off campus.

The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.

If anyone who may be a victim or has additional information, can contact LAPD at (818) 374-5415 or (877) 527-3247 or LADA’s Bureau of Victim Services at (800) 380-3811.