Image sources: Neng Yang, courtesy of KMPH. Fancher Creek Elementary School in Fresno, California, courtesy of Homes.com.
Andreozzi + Foote, with co-counsel Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC (PCVA), has filed a lawsuit on behalf of five women who allege that Clovis Unified School District (CUSD) allowed former elementary school teacher Neng Yang to sexually abuse them while they were students at Fancher Creek Elementary School in Fresno, California.
The plaintiffs—Samantha Muñoz, Chloe Alvarado, Tiffany Thrailkill, and two Jane Does—report that the abuse occurred in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when they were just seven or eight years old.
Yang later pled guilty in 2014 to two counts of child sexual exploitation of a minor and is currently serving a 38-year federal prison sentence. The lawsuit names both Clovis Unified School District and Fancher Creek Elementary as defendants, accusing them of negligence and a breach of their mandatory duty to report child abuse.
A Pattern of Abuse & Negligence
From approximately 1993 to 1997, Yang was employed as a student teacher at Fancher Creek Elementary School. He then worked at Fancher Creek as a teacher from about 1997 to 2007. From around 2007 until his arrest in 2012, Yang taught at Freedom Elementary School, another school within Clovis Unified School District.
According to the lawsuit, school officials received multiple direct complaints about Yang’s abusive behavior as early as 1998, including specific reports from victims Tiffany Thrailkill and Samantha Muñoz. Additionally, the lawsuit reports that Yang used sexually inappropriate language and was openly “touchy feely” with students at the school.
Despite these clear warning signs, the lawsuit alleges, Clovis Unified School District and Fancher Creek Elementary failed to properly supervise Yang or investigate these serious complaints. Purportedly, Yang used his position as a teacher to sexually abuse the victims during school hours and on school property. His abuse allegedly included groping, fondling, forcing children into sexual acts, and forcing a child to participate in child pornography.
Heinous Acts Ignored
According to the lawsuit, Thrailkill reported Yang’s abuse to the school’s principal, Alex Reyes, vice principal, Rob Christopherson, and school counselor, Veronica Hicks. Instead of believing the child, the staff reportedly accused her of lying and referred her to psychological treatment.
At no point did anyone from the school report Thrailkill’s complaint about Mr. Yang to the authorities, despite the fact that school administrators and teachers are mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse under California law. Neither the school nor the district suspended or terminated Yang. They also failed to warn other teachers about him or remove Thrailkill from his classroom.
The further alleges that during the 2004–2005 school year, a school employee witnessed Yang viewing child pornography with second-grader Samantha Muñoz in his classroom. Instead of contacting her parents or authorities, school administrators allegedly interrogated Muñoz, encouraged her to remain silent, and took no steps to prevent Mr. Yang from continuing to abuse her.
Muñoz told the Los Angeles Times that the district protected the predator and allowed him to keep teaching despite knowing what he was doing to students. “I just need them to be accountable for who they protected,” she said.
Yang’s Arrest and Aftermath
The lawsuit states that Yang’s employment only ended because he was arrested in January 2012 after police discovered explicit video on his cell phone of him molesting students.
A January 2012 Fresno Bee article notes that “Yang’s wife, Kia Yang, is the principal at Miramonte Elementary School in the Clovis Unified School District.”
By February 2012, she had filed for divorce and was fighting for custody of their children. She is not currently listed on the school’s staff page.
Survivors Deserve to Be Heard
Attorneys believe there may be other survivors who have not yet come forward, and they encourage anyone who may have been harmed by Neng Yang to share their experience. Every voice matters, and no one should feel pressured to stay silent.
“Our clients were just kids when they were abused by a teacher they were told to trust,” said Nate Foote, partner at Andreozzi + Foote. “They tried to speak up, and the school failed them. Now, they’re standing up not just for themselves, but to make sure no other child is ignored the way they were. We’re proud to stand with them in that fight.”
Our Commitment to Survivors
Andreozzi + Foote is a nationally recognized law firm with extensive experience representing survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Our attorneys have successfully handled cases against school districts, religious institutions, youth organizations, and other entities that failed to protect children. We recognize the courage it takes to come forward, and we’re committed to helping survivors seek justice.
If you or someone you love was harmed by Neng Yang or another teacher at Fancher Creek Elementary and would like to speak confidentially with our legal team, please contact us today.
📞 Call (866) 899-8753
📧 Email info@vca.law
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