A former coach for Los Osos High School who is serving time for peeping on girls is extending discovery after claiming a lawyer who appeared for him at previous hearings in a civil case was not his counsel at all.
David Riden is serving time at Avenal State Prison after pleading guilty Oct. 4, 2022, to one felony count of child pornography, two felony counts of use of an underage person for obscene matter, and multiple misdemeanors, all related to allegations that he installed a camera disguised as a phone charger in the LOHS girls’ locker room. He will become eligible for parole in October.
Multiple Los Osos High School alumnae filed a civil case against him and the school district on Oct. 8, 2021—four days after his plea date. That complaint brought charges of intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, negligence, negligent supervision, negligent hiring and intimate recording without consent.
According to a March 20 document filed by Riden’s attorneys, San Bernardino County counsel is reviewing Riden’s illicit footage to identify more women spied upon, in order for prosecutors to file additional criminal charges.
That case’s discovery was set back June 12, after San Bernardino Superior Judge Joseph Ortiz granted Riden’s motion for relief. In that motion, Riden claimed that the lawyer who represented him early in the lawsuit was not his appointed lawyer, and that Riden did not have the legal representation to respond to copies of court documents.
The lawyer was found by Riden’s mother—but was not retained by Riden himself, Riden claimed, according to Ortiz’s ruling.
“He adamantly denies retaining the counsel who initially appeared for him and who had failed to respond to the discovery at issue. He asserts his mother assisted in locating that attorney but that he understood the attorney to be unqualified given the issues at play in this case. Riden asserts he did not retain the attorney but that the attorney filed an answer without Riden’s authorization,” Ortiz wrote in his judgment.
The plaintiff’s counsel wrote in opposition to the motion that Riden’s motion showed willful non-compliance with his duties to respond, and that he received the benefit of legal representation while avoiding the consequences.
“Riden’s attempts to evade discovery are not due to mistake, inadvertence, or excusable neglect but are deliberate acts of non-compliance,” they wrote.
Hartley LLP represents the plaintiffs.
Barber and Bauermeister represent the Chaffey Joint Union High School District.
Ziprick & Associates represent Riden.
Case No. CIVSB2128630
Read our previous coverage:
Ex-Los Osos football coach pleads guilty to hiding cameras in girls’ locker room
Read Ortiz’s ruling here.
