Rocklin High school staff accused of teenage sex tape cover-up

Updated May 10, 2023, 12:07 a.m. Rocklin High School staff was put under fire May 3 when a student at the Rocklin Unified School District board meeting detailed events of the distribution of a sex tape she did not consent to and the bullying on-campus that followed, which she said Rocklin staff knew. The sophomore student, Ava Messina, said that a Rocklin High School student and football player who recently received five Division 1 college athletic opportunities is the cause of her heightened anxiety, depression and "severe suicidal ideation." "In November of 2022, I took part in a sexual act with a fellow sophomore. During this act, I was filmed without my knowledge," Messina said. "He further victimized me by distributing the video to teens throughout the county. I am not the only girl that he has filmed. But I am the only girl who will speak up. I will not be silenced." Messina said she saw the student's collection of videos that included "at least 50 different girls." Messina said she reported the bullying, harassment and two vandalism events at her home to Rocklin High School staff but they were unresponsive. Messina said she went from being a "4.0 student to failing three classes." "In a matter of months, I went from being a well-respected, high-achieving student athlete to a student who is categorized as the school slut," Messina said. "Each day, I suffer severe anxiety in a way I never have at school. I live in anger because of the lack of justice." Messina said she has been shamed by some of her peers for speaking out because she is accusing someone who is "popular" and on Rockin's "beloved football team." She detailed the bullying on and off campus and said it got so bad that she hides out in classrooms and libraries to avoid it. "Every day since I spoke up, I have felt silenced by my school and I have felt powerless," Messina said. "I have to suffer the consequences while he gets to walk around with his head held high. I want to know why he is respected and I am disdained. The answer is he is a male football player and the next quarterback." Messina's allegations did not stop there. "One of the other personal attacks I have had is one of the senior quarterbacks telling my brother that he was going to rape me in his truck in the school parking lot," Messina said. "He threatened to assault me and goes on to be a big guy on campus." Messina said the student was not disciplined and she was "silenced." Members of Messina's family, including her mother, father, sister, friends and community members showed up to support Messina. "This situation is very serious and it seems absurd that everyone has known about it for so long and we're still discussing it," said Julia Bray, who identified herself as Messina's best friend. "I'm tired of watching the staff act like he didn't commit an illegal crime, all because he is the starting quarterback." Bray added, "I hope that some day this will make enough of an impact for this not to happen to anyone else." Ava Messina's sister, Mia Messina, read aloud portions of California's education code. "Clearly stated in California Education Code 32261 the legislature hereby recognizes that all pupils enrolled in California state public schools have the right to attend classes on school campuses that are safe, secure and peaceful, and my sister is not receiving that," Mia Messina said. "Why this individual is able to still walk around the same campus as my sister is baffling. To allow this to continue is not only a disgusting misuse of power by Rocklin High School but a violation of my sister's rights to a fair and public education and we will not stand by and watch this happen." Ava Messina's mother, Valerie Chapman, said that as an educator, she is in disbelief by how her daughter's situation has been handled by the school district. "I'm a 21-year veteran classroom teacher. I think about how much the system I dedicated my life to as a teacher has failed my child and it disgusts me," Chapman said. "I have not received one phone call from the principal or superintendent. I've watched my daughter be silenced at Rocklin High School." Ava Messina's father, Jake Messina who is a teacher and head coach for the Oakmont High School football team, spoke out in her defense. He said the video was even sent to teammates on the Oakmont football team. "I'm going to lose a lot of football friends tonight," he said. "This individual who is clearly and admittedly guilty of distribution of child porn still in football activities without a care in the world is an indictment to the entire system," Jake Messina said. "It tells women the crimes against them are secondary to winning championships." Gold Country Media reached out to the Rocklin Unified School district for comment. "The Rocklin Unified School District is committed to providing a safe and welcoming educational environment every day for all students, families and staff," said Rocklin Unified School District chief of communications Sundeep S. Dosanjh. "During the May 3, 2023 board meeting, comments were made regarding allegations involving student safety between peers and also raising questions about the response from staff. While the school district cannot comment on personnel matters, student discipline matters or open investigations, Rocklin Unified takes these allegations seriously." More allegations A former Rocklin High School student, Isabeau Seipler, also accused Rocklin High School staff of racism and discrimination. Seipler is Mexican and a senior and said she was physically attacked by a "white Whitney soccer player on the Rocklin High School campus" at the beginning of this school year and has since transferred schools. "My attacker was able to attend school with no issues after it was all said and done," Seipler said. "However, I was facing a pending expulsion and multiple rounds of questioning and investigations." Seipler said she missed the first month of school, August, because of the incident. "I was told that my self-defensive actions were animal-like and that I was a danger to Rocklin's campus," Seipler said. Seipler said she was eventually allowed to come back to campus but she received "multiple text messages from the Rocklin High School football players. These text messages were degrading, misogynistic and sexually vulgar." Seipler said she alerted the school "in hopes something would be done, but because of the fact that these football players are white and played football, no action was taken to discipline them for bullying on behalf of my attacker." In retaliation, Seipler said, the Rocklin High School principal and girls' basketball coach had her benched on the varsity basketball team, although she was the leading scorer. Dosanjh said that students at Rocklin High are treated equally. "Some of the incidents were brought to the district's attention earlier this school year and have either been investigated or are currently being investigated, Dosanjh said. "The conduct of all students, including athletes, is equal when on campus or at school sanctioned activities. Rocklin Unified is currently reviewing policies and athlete codes of conduct and will be partnering with outside agencies to identify best practices and have education and training protocols in place so all athletes and students can feel safe and respected across all schools and while attending school events." Zane Seipler, Isabeau's Seipler's father, does not have faith in the district's investigations. "When they say it's under investigation, it's a bunch of crap," Zane Seipler said. "They get their lawyers, tell you it's a special investigation and find where they are legally vulnerable for a lawsuit. That's all they care about." Zane Seipler said his family moved to Rocklin in 2018 because they "thought this was a nice place." "Hardwood Palace is down the street so my daughter could play ball. It was a dream to move to Rocklin but the past year has been a nightmare," Zane Seipler said. Zane Seipler said he plans to take legal action against Rocklin High School. Walkout planned In response to what some parents and students say is a lack of response from Rocklin High School staff to illegal and discriminatory practices, a walkout was planned at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, after press time, on the sidewalk in front of Rocklin High School, according to Parents for Social Consciousness FaceBook Group. The group recently promoted the hashtag #BelieveRUSDGirls on Instagram, FaceBook and Twitter in support of those who took a stand at the May 3 school board meeting. "I hope it sends the message that parents and the Rocklin community have had enough of the Rocklin High School administrators and the district administrators who cover up for them," Zane Seipler said. "They've created a cult-like atmosphere reminiscent of the time where girls were only allowed to cheer for the football team and keep their mouths shut when they were victimized. Those days ended a long time ago. It appears this Rocklin cult of administrators did not get the memo."