A civil lawsuit has been filed against the Fullerton Joint Union High School District and former Sunny Hills High School music instructor Albert Anthony Morales.
The lawsuit alleges that Morales groomed, sexually harassed and sexually assaulted a 16-year-old student while working with the Sunny Hills High School music program.
According to reporting about the lawsuit, Morales allegedly provided the student with alcohol and sexually assaulted her while she was intoxicated or unconscious. The survivor reported the abuse to law enforcement in 2013 and, after years of therapy and recognizing the lasting harm it caused, decided to pursue a civil case.
The lawsuit was filed on July 10, 2026. It names Morales and the Fullerton Joint Union High School District as defendants.
The allegations against the district have not yet been proven in court. The lawsuit remains active.
Who Is Albert Anthony Morales?
Albert Anthony Morales is a former percussion and assistant band instructor who worked or volunteered with high school music programs in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Authorities previously reported that Morales worked at:
- Diamond Bar High School from approximately 1998 to 2000
- Sunny Hills High School from approximately 2004 to 2009
- Diamond Ranch High School during the 2012–2013 school year
Morales reportedly worked with band students, particularly percussion students, for approximately 13 years.
In 2013, Los Angeles County sheriff’s detectives arrested Morales following allegations that he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old Sunny Hills High School student. According to reporting about the current civil lawsuit, Morales later pleaded no contest to oral copulation of an unconscious victim.
What Does the Sunny Hills High School Lawsuit Allege?
The lawsuit alleges that Morales used his position as a music instructor to develop an inappropriate relationship with the student.
According to the allegations, Morales:
- Gave the student special attention and preferential treatment
- Engaged in grooming behavior that was visible at school
- Provided the student with alcohol
- Sexually assaulted her while she was intoxicated or unconscious
- Used his access to the school music program to gain the student’s trust
Attorney Morgan Stewart said there were visible instances of favoritism, grooming and behavior directed toward the student on campus.
The lawsuit also raises questions about whether school employees observed warning signs, heard rumors or had information that should have triggered an investigation.
Did the Alleged Sexual Assaults Occur at Sunny Hills High School?
Earlier law-enforcement reporting stated that the alleged sexual assaults occurred at locations away from the high school.
That does not end the inquiry into institutional responsibility.
A school’s potential responsibility is not limited to misconduct that physically occurs inside a classroom or on school property. A civil investigation may examine whether an employee used access, authority and relationships developed through the school to groom a student before arranging contact somewhere else.
Investigators must determine what occurred at school before the alleged assaults, including:
- Whether Morales isolated the student from her peers
- Whether he displayed inappropriate favoritism
- Whether employees observed unusual physical or emotional boundaries
- Whether rumors or complaints were reported
- Whether Morales communicated privately with students
- Whether he transported students or met with them away from school
- Whether administrators adequately supervised instructors and volunteers
- Whether anyone failed to document or investigate warning signs
Earlier reporting may establish where an assault occurred. It does not necessarily establish how the alleged perpetrator obtained access to the child or whether institutional failures contributed to that access.
Why Is the Fullerton Joint Union High School District Being Sued?
A school district is not automatically responsible simply because an accused person worked or volunteered at one of its schools.
Institutional responsibility depends on the evidence.
The lawsuit against the Fullerton Joint Union High School District may examine whether administrators or employees:
- Failed to adequately supervise Morales
- Ignored observable grooming behavior
- Failed to investigate rumors or complaints
- Allowed inappropriate access to students
- Failed to enforce professional boundaries
- Failed to train employees to recognize sexual grooming
- Failed to report suspected misconduct
- Allowed Morales to continue working with students despite warning signs
California law recognizes potential civil liability against a person or entity that owed a survivor a duty of care when that person or entity’s wrongful or negligent conduct was a legal cause of childhood sexual assault.
The district’s responsibility, if any, must be determined through evidence—not assumption.
That evidence may include personnel files, internal communications, witness testimony, school policies, prior complaints and records showing what administrators knew or should have known.
Were There Warning Signs at Sunny Hills High School?
The lawsuit alleges that certain behavior was visible on campus, including favoritism and grooming directed toward the student.
Grooming frequently develops gradually. It may initially appear to be mentoring, encouragement or special support.
Warning signs can include:
- Giving one student excessive attention
- Spending unnecessary time alone with a student
- Communicating privately outside approved channels
- Giving gifts or special privileges
- Becoming involved in a student’s personal or family life
- Normalizing secrecy
- Transporting a student without appropriate safeguards
- Creating emotional dependence
- Providing alcohol or other prohibited substances
- Treating professional boundaries as unnecessary
No individual warning sign proves that sexual abuse occurred. But schools have a duty to take patterns of concerning behavior seriously.
An independent investigation should determine whether these behaviors were observed, reported or documented—and what the district did in response.
Did Investigators Believe There Could Be Other Survivors?
Following Morales’ 2013 arrest, detectives publicly asked for help identifying any additional possible victims.
Law-enforcement officials said the survivor believed there had been other girls who were close to Morales. Morales had also spent years working or volunteering in multiple high school music programs.
Reporting concerning the new lawsuit also referenced rumors that Morales may have been involved in other inappropriate relationships. Rumors are not proof. They are, however, information that should be investigated—particularly when an adult has repeated access to children through multiple schools.
Anyone who had concerning interactions with Morales through Sunny Hills High School, Diamond Bar High School, Diamond Ranch High School or another music program should preserve any information they still possess.
Even information that appears incomplete may help establish a broader timeline or confirm what school employees knew.
Why Would a Survivor Wait Years to File a Lawsuit?
Delayed disclosure is common in childhood sexual abuse cases.
A student may not immediately understand that an adult’s conduct was grooming or abuse. The student may believe the relationship was consensual, feel responsible for what happened or remain emotionally attached to the adult.
Survivors may also remain silent because of:
- Shame or embarrassment
- Fear of not being believed
- Loyalty to a teacher, coach or program
- Concern about losing friends or extracurricular opportunities
- Fear of retaliation
- Trauma-related memory and avoidance
- Concern about how disclosure will affect family members
- A belief that too much time has passed
The responsibility belongs entirely to the adult who violated the child’s trust—not to the child.
According to her attorney, the survivor in this case came forward to law enforcement in 2013 and pursued therapy before deciding to bring the civil action.
Can Someone Still Bring a Case Concerning Abuse From Years Ago?
Potentially.
California’s filing requirements for childhood sexual assault claims have changed repeatedly. Changes taking effect in 2026 extended the eligibility period for the revival of certain claims that previously may have been barred.
The applicable deadline can depend on:
- When the abuse occurred
- The survivor’s age
- The identity of the defendants
- Whether a public entity is involved
- Whether an earlier claim or lawsuit was filed
- Which version of California law applies
- Whether a statutory revival provision applies
Survivors should not assume that they are disqualified because the abuse occurred many years ago.
They should also not rely on a general article to determine their deadline. Every situation must be evaluated individually by an attorney familiar with California childhood sexual abuse law.
What Can Civil Litigation Uncover?
The criminal justice system focuses primarily on whether an individual committed a crime.
Civil litigation can examine a broader question:
Did an institution’s conduct enable the abuse or allow it to continue?
A civil case may uncover evidence that was never publicly disclosed during the criminal investigation, including:
- Personnel and volunteer records
- Background-check documents
- Internal complaints
- Emails between administrators
- Communications involving music department employees
- Reports from students or parents
- Policies governing one-on-one contact
- Transportation and travel records
- Band schedules and competition records
- Records of disciplinary action
- Mandatory-reporting documentation
- Evidence concerning previous rumors or warnings
The arrest or conviction of an individual does not answer every question.
Institutions entrusted with children must explain how the adult obtained access, what safeguards existed and whether warning signs were properly addressed.
What Should Former Students and Families Preserve?
Former Sunny Hills High School students, music-program participants and families should preserve anything that may document Morales’ conduct, position or access to students.
Potentially relevant evidence includes:
- Yearbooks
- Band photographs
- Concert programs
- Competition and travel schedules
- Student rosters
- Letters and handwritten notes
- Emails
- Text messages
- Social-media communications
- Calendars and journals
- Transportation records
- Records of private lessons
- Payment records
- School complaints
- Communications with teachers or administrators
- Names of students, parents or employees who observed concerning behavior
Do not alter, crop or annotate original documents or digital files. Preserve them in their original form whenever possible.
Former students should not confront Morales or attempt to conduct their own investigation. Evidence should be preserved and provided to trained investigators or legal counsel.
Your Experience Matters
A person does not need to know whether their experience meets a particular legal definition before seeking confidential guidance.
Some survivors remember specific assaults. Others remember grooming, boundary violations, alcohol, secrecy, private communication or conduct that made them uncomfortable but that they did not understand at the time.
Information from one person may corroborate what happened to someone else.
Coming forward can identify patterns, expose institutional failures and help protect other students.
You control how much you share during an initial conversation.
Confidential Legal Help for Sunny Hills High School Survivors
Manly, Stewart, Finaldi & Thom represents the survivor who filed the civil lawsuit involving Albert Anthony Morales and the Fullerton Joint Union High School District.
Our attorneys investigate both the conduct of alleged perpetrators and the institutions that gave those individuals access to children.
If you experienced sexual abuse, grooming or inappropriate conduct involving Albert Anthony Morales through Sunny Hills High School, Diamond Bar High School, Diamond Ranch High School or another school music program, you may contact our firm for a free and confidential case review.
You may share only what you feel comfortable sharing.
Call Manly, Stewart, Finaldi & Thom at (855) 928-5364.
Our firm exclusively represents survivors of sexual abuse. We never represent alleged perpetrators.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Albert Anthony Morales?
Albert Anthony Morales is a former percussion and assistant band instructor who worked or volunteered with music programs at Sunny Hills High School, Diamond Bar High School and Diamond Ranch High School. He was arrested in 2013 following allegations that he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old Sunny Hills student.
What does the Sunny Hills High School lawsuit allege?
The lawsuit alleges that Morales groomed, sexually harassed and sexually assaulted a 16-year-old student. It alleges that he provided her with alcohol and assaulted her while she was intoxicated or unconscious.
Who are the defendants in the lawsuit?
The lawsuit names Albert Anthony Morales and the Fullerton Joint Union High School District as defendants.
When was the lawsuit filed?
The civil lawsuit was filed on July 10, 2026.
Was Albert Anthony Morales convicted?
According to reporting about the lawsuit, Morales pleaded no contest in 2013 to oral copulation of an unconscious victim.
Did Morales work at other schools?
Authorities reported that Morales worked or volunteered at Diamond Bar High School, Sunny Hills High School and Diamond Ranch High School.
Are there allegations involving additional survivors?
No additional survivor has been publicly confirmed through the current lawsuit. However, investigators asked other possible victims to come forward following Morales’ 2013 arrest, and the survivor reportedly believed that other girls had been close to him.
Can a school district be responsible when abuse occurs away from campus?
Potentially. Responsibility depends on whether the institution’s negligent or wrongful conduct contributed to the abuse. Relevant evidence may include grooming at school, inadequate supervision, ignored warnings or inappropriate access created through the employee’s position.
Can someone pursue a claim involving abuse from the 2000s?
Potentially. California’s filing laws have changed, and the availability of a claim depends on the facts and the law applicable to that particular survivor. An experienced childhood sexual abuse attorney should evaluate the circumstances privately.
How can former students contact Manly, Stewart, Finaldi & Thom?
Former students and families may call (855) 928-5364 for a free and confidential case review.
