Fresno County sheriff's investigators served a search warrant at the home of Lance Clement last month. But before they got inside the house, Clement was dead by his own hand.
All's quiet at Orange Center Elementary as the calendar has flipped to July. But chaos struck the small campus as the school year came to an end last month when a 10-year-old girl told investigators the principal had been touching her sexually for most of the time she spent in fifth grade. A janitor discovered them alone in a dark office one evening behind closed doors. The principal's life came unraveled afterwards.
"Once Mr. Clement was no longer in a position to victimize her, she did come forward," said the girl's attorney Jacob Rivas.
Rivas represents the girl in a claim against the school district. He says Clement got her into the office 15 to 20 times during the year under the pretense of helping her with school work. He plied her with gifts -- including a Playstation Portable, an iPod, and candy. And then, she says, he touched her inappropriately.
Her story prompted a Fresno County sheriff's investigation, which led to a search warrant, and when deputies served it, Clement killed himself. Rivas says the school district was negligent in allowing it to happen and ABC30 legal analyst Tony Capozzi agrees it looks that way.
"I think the claimant has a very good case, especially if they can show the school district either did nothing or very little to avoid what happened in this case," he said.
Rivas says the district should have been able to stop Clement. His client is not the first girl to accuse the principal of inappropriate touching. An Action News reporter talked to a mother whose daughter says he did the same thing to her. That girl says she told a teacher about it, but it never stopped. Rivas says CPS conducted at least two investigations.
"Despite reports to the school district, despite reports to various investigative agencies, nothing was done," Rivas said.
CPS didn't respond to our calls to confirm previous investigations.
The school district has 45 days to respond to this claim before Rivas can file a lawsuit.
District administrators did not respond to our requests for comment.