By Joe Nelson | jnelson@scng.com and Scott Schwebke | sschwebke@scng.com | San Bernardino Sun
Published: June 22, 2018 at 3:08 pm | Updated: June 22, 2018 at 7:49 pm
A top Redlands Unified School District official attempted to destroy evidence and obstructed the 2013 criminal investigation of a former teacher convicted of sexually abusing students, according to sworn statements and police reports supporting allegations in eight pending lawsuits against the district.
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Sabine Robertson-Phillips was accused by two police detectives of deleting files on her office computer during July 3, 2013, police raids at school district offices and Citrus Valley High School as part of the criminal investigation of teacher Laura Whitehurst.
Additionally, they claimed Robertson-Phillips advised school district staff not to cooperate with police and to lawyer up if approached by the detectives.
The statements of Detectives Dominic Povero and Natasha Crawford are among nearly 1,900 pages of documents and more than 11 hours of recorded police interviews obtained by the Southern California News Group that attorneys say reveal a more than decadelong pattern of covering up sex abuse allegations within the district.
The newly uncovered evidence was filed in connection with a $6 million settlement between the school district and a former student who fathered Whitehurst’s child. That civil case prompted more victims to come forward alleging they were sexually abused by Redlands Unified teachers, including Redlands High special education teacher and golf coach Kevin Patrick Kirkland. Kirkland pleaded guilty last year to molesting four female students in 2015 and 2016.
Attorney Morgan Stewart, who is representing former students in current sex abuse lawsuits against Kirkland and two other teachers, believes Robertson-Phillips is the core of the problem.
“As long as she’s there, it’s going to continue, I have no doubt,” said Stewart, whose firm also represented Whitehurst’s victim in his litigation. “You would think in a small school district, they could control it a lot better, but not if, for lack of a better word, there’s a disease at the top.”
Robertson-Phillips denies the allegations and said she has dedicated her career to ensuring students receive the best education possible in a safe and healthy environment.
“I have a proven track record of working collaboratively with the police on cases throughout my tenure as assistant superintendent,” she said in an email. “I have always viewed law enforcement as partners and have always cooperated to resolve situations for the benefit of our students. I have never destroyed evidence or in any way interfered with a police investigation.”
To read expanded article, click here.
Are you surprised this is Mike Ramos country. Redlands PD don’t rock many boats.
Ramos needs to be disbarred and imprisoned for overlooking these crimes.
How do we know Ramos was made aware. I am justing missing it. Will chk back later to see if there is more info.
Read the report. Are we crazy. When are men men? This is a very crazy world where 26 year old are still dependents. Such a mess.
It is ok to teach students to have sex and how to have sex annnd that they can have sex with either gender but when that student decides to have sex with a 22 yr old it is suddenly wrong. Make up my mind. Parents complain that their students say students have sex on campus all the time. Make up my mind legislatutre. Please decide what is ok and beeeeeee consistent.
Anonymous # 3:
Read the other article.
Mike Ramos was aware, and had a “team” who “thoroughly” reviewed “the case.” This “team,” which included Mary Ashley, concluded that there was “no substance to the rumors,” and the evidence they found did not give rise to “reasonable suspicion.”
Anyone who believes that Mike Ramos made decisions to prosecute or not prosecute based on an objective application of law to fact needs a history lesson.
Note how Mr. Ramos responded to the suggestion that his and his wife’s history with the school district was a factor in the decision to take no action. “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”
@6 let’s see if Mike Ramos’s excuses not to prosecute because of a relationship scores him any points in Federal Court.
I think this article is more ammunition for the Colonies Civil Case.
Lost count on hearing the relationship excuse or a sloppy prosecution with selected targets chosen for prosecution while other key players in the scheme completely ignored or covered for.
Ramos has lost big in recent months. He lost the Colonies and reelection. HUGE beyond words.
Time for the pending civil case to take center stage on this blog and social media.
EVERY single public document posted right here for all to read.
Mikey has 6 months to convince the BOS to settle the Colonies Civil Case to avoid more negative repercussions for him and his crew of thugs.
Let’s get the show on the road.
High schools (and middle school) are nothing but hunting grounds for liberal teachers and staff to molest underage minors.
If parents only knew what really goes on in the redlands United school district they be SHOCKED
I LOVE MY KIDS SOMI SEND THEM TO YUCAIPA DISTRICT
Redlands is the worst managed and worst governed city in the County. Even worse than San Bernaghetto.
The hubris exhibited by this school district is astounding! Ignore state law to cover their butts? The settlement money will be flowing from the city coffers on this one.