Opinion ID: 2676870
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Alleged Sexual Assault

Text: The following narrative is based on allegations by Gallardo in her complaint and on statements by her mother, Maria Gallardo, in a declaration submitted to the district court in connection with its jurisdictional ruling under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1). For present purposes, we GALLARDO V. UNITED STATES 7 assume the truth of these allegations and statements. See Brown v. Elec. Arts, Inc., 724 F.3d 1235, 1247 (9th Cir. 2013). In March 2006, middle-school student Maritza Gallardo met U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Ross Curtis at a civilian youth disciplinary “boot camp.” While Gallardo was at the camp, Curtis asked her for her Myspace address. After Gallardo left the camp, Curtis sent messages to her Myspace address between March and May, suggesting that they “hang out” together. Gallardo “resisted” Curtis’s overtures. In May 2006, Curtis represented the Corps, in his “Dress Blues” uniform, at Gallardo’s middle school career day. During the career day, they acknowledged each other but did not speak. Gallardo left the school grounds at the end of the day. Curtis saw her leave and called her, asking her to return to the school. Gallardo returned, and she and several other students accepted Curtis’s offer to give them a ride home. After Curtis had dropped off everyone except Gallardo, he “drove around for some time and parked in a nearby neighborhood.” After he and Gallardo “talked for a while,” Curtis “began driving . . . and eventually parked” again. Curtis “began . . . kissing her, fondling her breasts, asking her to tou[c]h his erect penis and eventually attempting sexual penetration.” Gallardo began to cry. Curtis stopped, told her not to tell anyone what had happened, and drove her home.