Two former Prosper Independent School District coaches are facing charges for allegedly failing to report sexual assaults involving multiple students.
Renna Bersosa, 38, and Kasie Ostrom, 43, allegedly failed to report the sexual assaults after a student informed them of the incidents.
The arrest affidavit states that a student and her mother met with the two softball coaches two days before classes began and allegedly informed them that a player on the team “sexually abused and raped” three teammates, according to WFAA.
The student claimed the incidents took place at sleepovers that occurred off-campus over the summer.
Documents indicate that Bersosa allegedly responded to the student’s claim and told her that the accused “was a good player and that they didn’t want to lose her,” as reported by CBS News.
Bersosa also reportedly told the student “to handle this with the suspect and to tell the suspect that if she does not stop committing sexual assault, she will report this to the coach,” according to Fox 4 News.
Anna Greenberg, an attorney who represents abuse victims, said Bersosa’s apparent actions are unacceptable, and she should have been the one to handle the report.
“Adults need to be aware of their reporting obligations and to make sure that they speak up and don’t try to bury this information. Any report of child abuse has to be reported. It’s not up to the teachers to assess the credibility of the report,” said Greenberg, per CBS.
The student also told her therapist about the incidents, who immediately reported the claims to Child Protective Services. The therapist also informed police about the alleged lack of action taken by Bersosa and Ostrom, according to WFAA.
When interviewed by a Prosper police sergeant on August 23, Bersosa allegedly claimed that she “was not aware she had to report a third-party allegation.”
Ostrom also met with police investigators, reportedly claiming that she believed Bersosa would take action following the meeting with the student. She also stated that she did not follow up with Bersosa to see if she filed a report, per WFAA.
Prosper ISD sent a letter to parents stating that both Bersosa and Ostrom had been placed on administrative leave and that certain steps were meant to be taken to avoid a situation like this.
“State law mandates that educators file a report within 48 hours when they develop suspicions of potential child abuse or neglect. Prosper ISD requires employees to undergo training to ensure they know the proper steps to report such cases,” stated the letter, per Fox 4.
Prosper police said that both Bersosa and Ostrom are facing a misdemeanor charge of failure to report in accordance with Family Code, per WFAA.
Monica Rivera, vice president of prevention education at SafeSport, said, “Mandatory reporting is critical because it can potentially intervene before situations potentially escalate.”
“Abuse does happen, and it happens most often in our own communities and from people that we know and trust,” she said, according to WFAA.