March 10, 2022 - SAN FRANCISCO – Scott Shaw, 54, the former Director of Sports Medicine and athletic trainer at San Jose State University, has been charged today with civil rights violations for engaging in sexual misconduct with female student-athletes under the guise of treating them for their injuries.

The charges allege that between 2017 and 2020, Shaw violated the civil rights of four students who played on women’s athletics teams by touching their breasts and buttocks without their consent and without a legitimate purpose. 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.

Shaw faces a maximum of six years in prison if convicted of all counts. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by a court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence.

A charging information, as filed here, is merely a formal accusation of criminal conduct.  As with any defendant, Shaw is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Shaw is scheduled to appear to face the charges in U.S. District Court in San Jose on March 15, 2022, before United States Magistrate Judge  Susan Van Keulen. 

United States Attorney Stephanie Hinds of the Northern District of California, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair of the FBI made the announcement.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Pitman of the Northern District of California and Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold of the Criminal Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. This case is being investigated by the FBI San Francisco Field Office.

Anyone with information should contact the FBI at 510-808-2600.