Were You or Your Child Sexually Abused by Matthew Garrett at Taylor Middle School?

Matthew Garrett, a former sixth-grade teacher at Taylor Middle School in Millbrae, California, has been criminally charged in San Mateo County in connection with allegations that he sexually assaulted multiple students over a period spanning several years (The People of the State of California vs. Matthew Haggman Garrett, Case No. 23-NF-006345-A and 25-SF-018296-A). According to prosecutors and publicly available court records, Garrett faces 22 felony counts involving alleged sexual misconduct with minors, and the criminal case remains pending.

Publicly available law enforcement records, court filings, and prior civil litigation reflect that multiple teachers at Taylor Middle School have, at different times, been accused of sexually abusing or exploiting students.

In an earlier civil case, attorneys Kristen Vierhaus and Bobby Thompson of TLO Law, P.C. represented two former students of Taylor Middle School who alleged they were sexually abused and harassed by former teacher Ethel Molina during the 2013–2014 school year (Jane Doe #1 (A.M), et al. v. Millbrae School District, Case No. 21-CIV-00482). The lawsuit further alleged that school officials failed to act after receiving reports of the misconduct, including violations of mandatory child abuse reporting laws and failures to protect students from known or suspected abuse. That civil matter was ultimately resolved through settlement.

Public records also indicate a separate case involving Taylor Middle School, alleging a pattern of institutional failure to protect students from sexual abuse. In 2016, a Taylor Middle School teacher, Heather Amanda Butts, was arrested in San Mateo County Superior Court for engaging in a sexual relationship with a student that began while the victim attended Taylor Middle School and continued for several years thereafter (The People of the State of California vs. Heather Amanda Butts, Case No. 16-NF-010024-A-HTA).

The allegations involving Matthew Garrett have prompted renewed scrutiny of how schools respond to reports of educator misconduct and whether earlier intervention could have prevented additional harm. Survivors and families have emphasized that delayed or inadequate responses to reports of misconduct can compound the harm and discourage others from coming forward.

TLO Law, P.C. has previously represented former students in civil litigation involving allegations of sexual abuse and institutional failures at Taylor Middle School and within the Millbrae School District. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse often do not come forward until years later, and California law may still provide legal options.

Anyone with information regarding inappropriate conduct, sexual abuse, or prior complaints involving teachers or staff at Taylor Middle School or within the Millbrae School District may contact TLO Law, P.C. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse and their families may have legal options.

Were You Sexually Abused Matthew Garrett at Taylor Middle School?

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