Late LAUSD teacher profiled on ‘America's Most Wanted' subject of abuse suit

Two women in their 50s are suing the Los Angeles Unified School District concerning alleged sexual abuse they suffered in the 1980s from a now-deceased teacher who was profiled while a fugitive on "America's Most Wanted."

The plaintiffs are identified only as Jane L.N. Doe, 53, and Jane Y.M. Doe, 54, in the Los Angeles Superior Court negligence suit that seeks unspecified damages stemming from the alleged misconduct of the late Don Ray Moore, who was sentenced in July 1991 to 14 years in prison at age 57 for the abuses of several girls.

Moore threatened both Does with punishment if they spoke up about the alleged abuses and the plaintiffs did not fully realize until 2023 the psychological damage they suffered at his hands, the suit states.

Jane Y.M. Doe further alleges that she felt vulnerable "given the power dynamic between her and Mr. Moore," according to the suit.

Moore allegedly stayed in a Ventura River homeless encampment for a year to escape prosecution and was captured in Ventura in 1990  on a tip from an "America's Most Wanted" viewer.

The lawsuit is unclear whether the plaintiffs were among the victims in the criminal complaint. Moore died in December 2012.

An LAUSD representative did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the suit brought Thursday.

The plaintiffs were 11 to 12 years old and in sixth grade at 97th Street Elementary School when they met Moore, the suit states. Moore allegedly began grooming the plaintiffs and other young students in preparation for abusing them.

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Moore regularly touched students in his classroom and attempted to normalize his "inappropriate and sexually abusive behavior by making it commonplace," according to the suit, which further states that the school administration "conducted an improper sham investigation and instead attempted to swipe the incident under the rug" when complaints were received.

Moore was transferred to a non-teaching post, then placed on unpaid leave in February 1987 and fired 14 months later for "immoral and unlawful conduct," the suit states.

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