Students Sexually Harassed At Temecula College Campus, Lawsuit Alleges

TEMECULA, CA — A private college with satellite locations across California is accused of failing to investigate complaints of sexual harassment and battery against students at its Temecula campus — and retaliating against a professor who reported the alleged misconduct. The college is also accused of negligence in hiring and training an "unfit" instructor at the center of the allegations, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Eight female students who attended San Joaquin Valley College's Temecula campus are plaintiffs in the suit filed against the college, former SJVC instructor Trevor Doyle, SJVC Program Director Arthur Martinez, and 20 unnamed "Does."

The students — Tatiyana Davis, Angela Howard, Abigail Instroza, Sydney Kline, Natasha Lee, Vanessa Reed, Maria Sauceda and Katerina Simmons — attended the 27270 Madison Avenue campus at various times from July 2021 to January 2024. They are represented by the Los Angeles-based law firm Makarem & Associates.

Patch reached out to SJVC several times for comment but did not hear back.

At the heart of the allegations is Doyle, who taught within SJVC's Surgical Technology program. Under the program, students can earn an Associate of Science degree and be eligible to sit for the Certified Surgical Technologist National Certification Exam.

Doyle, however, was unfit to teach, the plaintiffs' attorneys allege. He was accused of sexual harassment at a prior job, which SJVC should have red-flagged during his hiring process, according to the complaint.

Doyle's hiring came amid a preexisting friendship with Martinez, who knew about the past sexual harassment allegation, according to the plaintiffs' attorney Alexis Hames.

When reached by phone twice, Doyle declined Patch's request for comment. His LinkedIn page shows he served at SJVC from September 2020 to November 2023. He currently serves with another educational institution.

Complaints against Doyle surfaced when students Howard, Kline, Reed and Sauceda were in his class that began in July 2021. Nearly every day he was around the students, he made "discriminatory and harassing comments" to them, according to the lawsuit.

Allegations by the four against Doyle include referring to female students as "bitches"; discussing his sex life in front of them; saying "damn" as he stared at female students walking by or bending over; asking female students to have drinks with him; commenting on female students' appearances and what they were wearing; and commenting on the size of one student's breasts; among others.

It wasn't just the comments. Doyle also touched them inappropriately and rubbed against them, according to the complaint.

When the four complained, SJVC failed to take investigative action. SJVC Professor Alfonso Martin tried to take the student's concerns to the school's Dean. As a result, Martin was disciplined by Martinez for skipping over him and taking the allegations to the Dean, according to Hames.

The four students finished Doyle's class in March 2022; their education at SJVC was completed in October 2022.

Doyle continued teaching at the Temecula campus.

In fall 2022, more students enrolled in Surgical Technology program classes. Davis, Instroza, Lee and Simmons were among them. They had Doyle as a teacher.

The four experienced similar and even more egregious encounters with Doyle, according to the complaint. He told one student her "ass looks fat"; called one student on the weekend to tell her how much he missed her; called one on Valentine's Day to tell her he hoped her boyfriend was treating her right; asked one student why she got engaged to be married without first giving him a chance; told a student she was sexy; asked one if she was on birth control; texted a student about her appearance; whispered to a student that she turned him on; told one he wanted to kiss her; along with other misconduct, according to the complaint.

Inappropriate touching also took place, including Doyle trying to kiss students and touching their butts and breasts, the complaint states.

Davis, Inostroza and Simmons experienced sexual battery until at least April 2023, when Doyle resigned to pursue a job with another career college, according to the complaint.

The students also claim they reported Doyle's alleged inappropriate behavior but SJVC never investigated nor took action.

According to the lawsuit, Doyle retaliated when students complained to college officials: He ignored their in-class questions and ultimately assigned them poor grades.

Doyle is also accused of having an inappropriate relationship with an SJVC student whom he favored over others, the complaint alleges.

SJVC failed on many fronts: knowingly hiring "an unfit" instructor; failing to train Doyle and Martinez regarding California's mandated sexual harassment protocol; failing to investigate students’ claims of sexual harassment and other complaints; and supporting an environment of retaliation, according to the complaint.

Headquartered in Visalia, SJVC offers a range of certificate and associate degree programs designed to prepare students for entry into professional careers, according to the institution's website. The college touts 14 locations across the Golden State. It is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, and it is approved to operate as an accredited institution by the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education.

The plaintiffs claim the college is "vicariously liable."

Moreover, the plaintiffs' attorneys argue SJVC is at risk because it benefits from state student financial aid. Under California Education Code, it's unlawful for any institution receiving state assistance to discriminate. The plaintiffs endured sexism at SJVC, their attorneys claim.

Damages are sought in the case, but a figure was not named.

The plaintiffs have suffered anxiety, depression, stress and/or panic attacks, as well as adverse physical problems, according to Hames.

"One experienced thoughts of self-harm nearly every day while she was attending SJVC. Several have grown deeply insecure and self-conscious about their bodies following Mr. Doyle’s repeated derogatory remarks," Hames said. "Several rely on medications and medical treatment to cope with these overwhelming symptoms of emotional distress."

Note: This story will be updated with any comments from SJVC.