Diana Yniguez, Ramona Convent in Alhambra, Arrested for Sex With Student

Diana Yniguez, a teacher at the all-girls Catholic Ramona Convent Secondary School, was just arrested by the Alhambra Police Department for her unlawful sexual relationship with a teenage girl, and was subsequently placed on leave by the school. The girl was in Ms. Yniguez’ class during the 2015-2016 school year at Ramona Convent. Yniguez (also referenced as Diana Wendel) has taught at several other Los Angeles Archdiocese parochial schools for nearly two decades. The unlawful sexual relationship would probably have continued, said Alhambra police Sgt. Steven Carr, if it hadn’t been for the girl’s relative finding sexually-explicit texts on her phone, and informing her father.

Victims, family members and witnesses can get help from attorneys Estey & Bomberger. This news of Ms. Yniguez’ arrest for illegal sexual relations may surprise residents of Alhambra and the San Gabriel Valley, perhaps especially residents that knew Diana Yniguez as a Ramona Convent Secondary student, it does not surprise the attorneys at Estey & Bomberger. This aggressive team of catholic church molestation attorneys has been working with young student victims of teacher sexual misconduct for two decades, and they expect to be working with students and their families in the Yniguez case.

On a related local note, Estey & Bomberger has also been working with the victims of David Park, the Los Altos High (Hacienda Heights) chemistry teacher who molested several young girls and was sentenced to just three years in prison.

Victims of both David Park and Diana Yniguez would be referred to as cases of ‘institutional’ sex abuse, meaning the abuse occurred while in the care of, or on the grounds of, an institution such as a school, day care or youth group. This distinction is important because an institution has certain responsibilities to protect children.

Just One Victim?

There is almost never just one victim in a case of educator sexual abuse or misconduct, and this will turn out to not have been Ms. Yniguez’ first rodeo. That said, one victim reporting lets other victims know they are not alone. Reporting encourages other victims to come forward so the cycle of healing can begin.

Various non-profits report that:

• a single child sex offender can have as many as 73 victims in his/her lifetime
• 10% of K-12 students will be a victim of educator sexual misconduct

Are You a Victim? Did You Suspect Anything?

If you are a victim of Diana Yniguez, if you suspect that a minor has been sexually abused by this teacher, or if you think you were a witness to any ‘grooming’‘ activities (touching, tickling, hugging, or suggestive comments or texts), please contact Estey & Bomberger at 213-596-4855; the Los Angeles office is at 445 Figueroa. Steve Estey is currently conducting investigations into Diana Yniguez, Ramona Convent and the other schools where she taught.

Legal Options

Child sexual abuse is a crime against society. In some cases, it can also be a potential civil lawsuit. The two branches of the American justice system (criminal and civil) are two ‘menu’ items available to victims.

• the government (for example, the Alhambra police department, the District Attorney…) brings criminal charges. If successful, Ms. Yniguez will go to prison.
• the family (with the help of a law firm) brings a civil lawsuit. If successful, they will get financial compensation from the perpetrator and the institution, i.e. Ramona Convent, the Los Angeles Archdiocese, and/or other schools in the Archdiocese.

Victims and their families pays nothing to Estey & Bomberger until and unless the firm wins the case against Ms. Yniguez and Ramona Convent.

Benefits of Lawsuits, Based on Estey & Bomberger Client Feedback

• it’s an active step; the victim no longer has to feel passive
• financial compensation helps ease the stress of paying for years of psychological counseling
• it sends a message in the media that institutions owe a duty to our children, and will be held accountable when they don’t honor it
• large verdicts or settlements send a message to institutions, resulting in changes to policies and procedures that improve our children’s safety – many institutions don’t take notice of a problem until it affects their pocketbooks
• juries, and the society they represent, get a chance to support the survivor

We would be happy to answer any questions about our work and investigations on this case against Yniguez and Ramona Convent.