The former San Jose State University athletic trainer who allegedly sexually assaulted and harassed more than a dozen women athletes more than a decade ago is now facing federal charges for civil rights violations that occurred as recently as 2020.
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The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday charged Scott Shaw, the 54-year-old former San Jose State sports medicine director, with violating the civil rights of four student-athletes "by touching their breasts and buttocks without their consent" under the guise of injury treatment between 2017 and 2020.
Thursday's charges stem from newer allegations than those that prompted Shaw's resignation nearly two years ago.
Shaw stepped down from San Jose State in August 2020, just four months after USA Today reported the university reopened a 2009 probe into 17 women swimmers and divers' allegations of sexual harassment and assault. He was previously cleared of wrongdoing in 2010, but the university looked into the claims after swimming coach Sage Hopkins resurfaced the allegations to San Jose State, Mountain West Conference and NCAA officials.
Mary Papazian resigned as university president last December, announcing the decision about two weeks after the Department of Justice revealed in September an agreement in which the school would pay $1.6 million to 13 of Shaw's victims. Title IX investigators determined the school "failed for more than a decade to respond adequately to reports of sexual harassment, including sexual assault" from student-athletes about Shaw.
Twenty-three women participated in either the school's inquiry or the federal investigation into Shaw, according to university officials.
"Shaw, as a state employee for the California State University system, is further alleged to have acted under color of law when he sexually assaulted the victims," the Department of Justice said in a release.
If convicted on all counts, federal officials said Shaw could face a maximum of six years in prison.
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