Clovis Unified Fires Part-Time Buchanan High Coach After Arrest

Clovis Police Department detectives arrested the coach, who worked part time with Buchanan High’s percussion program, after the parents of a former student reported concerns to police, GV Wire and ABC30 reported. Detectives then served a search warrant at the coach’s home and collected additional evidence, police said.

He was taken to the Fresno County Jail and booked on the felony allegation. An arrest is not a conviction, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. As of October 5, 2026, the reports did not say whether prosecutors had filed charges.

Clovis Unified fired him immediately from his part-time position, and the district and Buchanan High are cooperating with the investigation, according to the reports.

Police said there is no evidence at this time that other students were involved. The timeline of the alleged conduct is still being investigated, GV Wire reported, and police have not publicly asked anyone else to come forward.

We will update this article if police, prosecutors or the district release more information.

California schools must screen the adults they bring in to work with students, including part-time and volunteer coaches, and school staff are legally required to report suspected child abuse to the authorities (Ed. Code §49024; Pen. Code §11165.7).

An arrest involving a school employee does not by itself mean a district did anything wrong. In civil cases over abuse by school staff, survivors often claim that a district missed warning signs, failed to supervise or did not act on reports. Learn how claims over abuse at California schools work.

California removed the filing deadline for childhood sexual abuse occurring on or after January 1, 2024 (Code Civ. Proc. §340.1). Older abuse is different: the usual cutoff is the survivor’s 40th birthday or five years after they discover the abuse caused their injury, whichever comes later. A law signed September 30, 2026 (SB 577), which takes effect January 1, 2027, shortens that discovery window to three years and raises the proof required when survivors 40 or older sue a public entity over abuse before 2024. Because these rules depend on dates, it is worth asking about timing early.

Survivors suing a school district over childhood sexual abuse do not have to file the six-month government claim that most suits against public agencies require (Gov. Code §905(m)). Our pages on childhood sexual abuse, abuse by institutions and child injury cases have more.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 911. Suspected abuse can also be reported to local law enforcement or the county’s child welfare agency.

This information is a general overview and is not legal advice; your situation may differ, and consulting a legal professional can help you understand rights that may apply to you.

From Fresno County to the coast, Wilshire Law Firm represents people who were sexually abused as students, athletes and members of youth programs. Speaking with our legal team is free and private, at any hour, and there are no fees unless you get paid.

Our sexual abuse lawyers page explains how these cases work, and our coverage of two lawsuits against Elk Grove Unified shows how claims against a district can unfold.

Talking about abuse is hard, and there is no pressure to decide anything. Wilshire Law Firm’s legal professionals can hear your story in confidence and explain what options may exist for you or your child. We’re available 24/7, and there are no fees unless you get paid.

Contact Wilshire Law Firm today.