A former athletic trainer at San Jose State University has pleaded guilty to unlawfully groping four women who sought his medical care, according to prosecutors. Scott Shaw, the former trainer, acknowledged violating the civil rights of the student athletes by touching their breasts and buttocks without consent between 2017 and 2020. He was charged with six misdemeanor counts of deprivation of civil rights under color of law and pleaded guilty to two counts. The charges came after San Jose State agreed to pay $3.3 million to 15 women who accused Shaw of misconduct. The guilty plea highlights Shaw’s abuse of his position and the betrayal of trust placed in him by these student-athletes. Prosecutor Kristen Clarke stated that Shaw used his role as a public university official to sexually assault female athletes who relied on him for medical care.
Following the plea agreement, Shaw now faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison, a fine of up to $200,000, and two years of supervised release. The guilty plea came after a federal jury failed to reach a verdict on the initial counts against Shaw. The lawyers representing Shaw have not yet commented on the matter.
In 2021, the Justice Department concluded that San Jose State had neglected reports of sexual harassment against Shaw for over a decade. This violation of Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded schools, led to a settlement between the university and the Justice Department. Investigations revealed that Shaw had inappropriately touched at least 23 women.
Shaw’s misconduct occurred during his tenure as the director of sports medicine and head athletic trainer at San Jose State. He admitted to touching the breasts and buttocks of the four victims without a legitimate medical reason and without their consent between 2017 and 2020. Examples of his inappropriate actions include massaging the back of a women’s water polo player’s shoulder before touching her breasts, and touching another player’s breasts under her clothing during a treatment session. The incidents involved members of both the women’s water polo team and women’s soccer team.
San Jose State University expressed its commitment to preventing sexual misconduct and acknowledged the victims’ long journey to seek justice. Shaw’s case is reminiscent of other medical staff members who have faced legal consequences for inappropriate behavior towards student athletes, such as Lawrence G. Nassar, who received a lengthy prison sentence for sexually abusing girls and young women during medical examinations.
Overall, this case underscores the importance of addressing and preventing sexual misconduct in athletic programs and ensuring the safety and well-being of student athletes.
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