Ray Waller Pleads Guilty in Bullard High School Teacher Abuse Case in Fresno

Former Bullard High Photography Teacher Ray Anthony Waller Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Exploitation Charges as State Case Remains Pending

FRESNO, CALIFORNIA (October 30, 2026) – A former Bullard High School teacher identified as Ray Waller has pleaded guilty to federal child exploitation charges involving a student in Fresno.

Fresno County officials are saying that the abuse occurred between late 2024 and February 2025, while Waller was working as a photography teacher at Bullard High School. Federal prosecutors said Ray Waller, now 39, sent obscene images of himself to a minor and persuaded the student to send sexually explicit images in return.

Fresno police arrested Waller at the school around 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 20, 2025, in an investigation with the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Fresno Unified School District placed him on leave after the arrest, and his teaching credential was suspended that July.

The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office filed 38 charges against him in state court, including sex with a minor under 16 and child molestation, and he pleaded not guilty to those counts in March 2025. A federal grand jury indicted him in June 2025.

On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Ray Waller pleaded guilty in federal court to sexual exploitation of a child, receipt of child sexual abuse material, and sending obscene material to a minor. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 14 and faces up to 60 years in federal prison, while the state case remains pending.

A lawsuit filed against Fresno Unified on behalf of the student alleges the district failed to protect a 14-year-old from a teacher who allegedly abused her for months on school grounds. The suit claims the student was allowed to stay alone with Waller in his locked classroom for hours on weekdays, and that staff saw her leaving late in the afternoon without ever asking why. Fresno Unified has said Waller held a valid credential and passed a background check before he was hired. Families may want to know what policies Bullard had for one-on-one time between staff and students, and whether anyone raised concerns before police got involved.

Liability for Fresno School Sexual Abuse

California school districts have a special relationship with students that requires reasonable steps to protect them from foreseeable harm. Under state law, a public entity can be held vicariously liable when its employees, such as administrators and supervisors, fail to properly hire, train, or supervise staff who go on to harm students. After Assembly Bill 218 amended Code of Civil Procedure Section 340.1, survivors of childhood sexual assault generally have until age 40, or five years from discovering their injuries, to file a civil claim. The same law removed the government claim-filing requirement for these cases and allows increased damages when an institution covers up abuse. Responsibility for educator abuse often reaches beyond the individual abuser:

• Hiring Practices: Districts must screen applicants carefully, including background checks and contact with prior employers.
• Supervision: Administrators are expected to monitor how staff interact with students, especially behind closed doors.
• Warning Signs: Excessive one-on-one time, private messaging, and gifts are red flags that schools are expected to address.
• Reporting Duties: Teachers and administrators are mandated reporters who must alert authorities when they suspect abuse.
• Campus Policies: Clear rules on locked doors, after-hours access, and electronic communication can prevent abuse.

The California Supreme Court addressed school district responsibility for educator abuse more than a decade ago. In C.A. v. William S. Hart Union High School District, decided in 2012, a high school student alleged he was sexually harassed and abused by the head guidance counselor at his school. The trial court dismissed his claims against the district, reasoning that no statute made a public school liable for negligent hiring or supervision. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that a district can be vicariously liable when supervisory employees knew or should have known of an employee’s dangerous propensities and failed to take reasonable protective measures. The decision confirmed that public schools cannot escape responsibility simply because the abuser acted outside the scope of their job.

How Educator Sexual Misconduct Goes Unnoticed

Abuse by teachers and school staff is often hidden in plain sight because offenders build trust with students, parents, and colleagues before crossing boundaries. A U.S. Department of Education report, released in 2004, estimated from national survey data that 9.6 percent of students in grades 8 through 11 had experienced some form of sexual misconduct by a school employee. That figure covers unwanted comments as well as physical contact. Parents and school communities can watch for several warning signs:

• Private Messages: Texts, social media messages, or secret accounts between a staff member and a student are a serious red flag.
• Special Treatment: Gifts, favors, rides, or extra privileges given to one student can signal grooming behavior.
• Isolation: An adult who repeatedly arranges to be alone with a student, especially after hours, warrants attention.
• Behavior Changes: Withdrawal, slipping grades, secrecy, or sudden mood shifts may point to something wrong.
• Secret Keeping: Any adult who asks a child to keep their relationship hidden from parents is crossing a clear line.

Protecting students requires schools to treat boundary violations seriously long before they become criminal cases. Strong supervision, clear policies, and staff training can help colleagues recognize and report warning signs early. When schools fail to act, survivors can carry the effects of abuse for years, including anxiety, depression, and trouble trusting adults. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse may be entitled to compensation for counseling, medical care, and the lasting harm abuse causes.

Investigating School Sexual Abuse in Fresno

We at Feher Law stand with the student harmed in this case and with her family. We hope these cases bring accountability and stronger safeguards for every student at Bullard and beyond. This case raises serious safety concerns about how closely staff interactions with students are monitored on campus. How could a teacher spend hours alone with a student behind a locked classroom door without anyone stepping in?

Has your child or a loved one been sexually abused by a teacher, coach, or school employee in Fresno or elsewhere in the Central Valley? California law gives survivors of childhood sexual abuse years to seek accountability from abusers and from schools that failed to protect them. Districts control the personnel files, prior complaints, and campus records that show what administrators knew and when. Our team of safety advocates and accident investigators can help you understand what happened, from supervision policies and prior complaints to campus access logs and staff accounts. If you have questions about your rights or would like a free, independent investigation, we’re here for you anytime at (424) 433-4412.