Editor’s note, this story was updated at 3pm on Sept. 30, 2026 with a statement by Digital NEST founder and CEO Jacob Martinez.
The Digital NEST tech nonprofit settled a sexual harassment lawsuit centered on allegations against Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Gabriel Medina, according to court documents. A former employee filed the 2020 court action that involved incidents before Medina was elected to the public school oversight board.
The former employee—The Pajaronian withholds names of people who report sexual assaults—accused the Watsonville-based 501(c)(3) of enabling an alcohol-fueled sexualized workplace and of failing to adequately address Medina’s alleged sexual misconduct.
As Digital NEST’s assistant program director and digital arts and technology manager, Medina was the accuser’s supervisor. The accuser says the nonprofit later retaliated against him after he complained. In a response filed by the San Jose law firm Hopkins & Carley, Digital NEST denied the conduct and said the plaintiff engaged in conduct that could have resulted in his termination.
According to the lawsuit, Medina referred to himself as the “gay Trump” at a September 2018 wine-tasting event and said, “I grab guys by the balls.”
In October of that same year, Medina told coworkers about a trip to New York, in which “he had a man snort cocaine off of his penis in the men’s restroom then received oral fellatio from that man.”
The accuser said he found Medina’s comments “vulgar and offensive” but did not complain because supervisors were present and he believed doing so would be futile.
Later, at an April 19, 2019, employee retreat, employees drank mimosas at breakfast before participating in a scavenger hunt that ended at the home of then-Deputy Director Steve Bean.
Bean no longer works for Digital Nest. He could not be reached for comment.
The accuser alleged that an apparently intoxicated Medina arrived and continued drinking, despite Bean’s warning that they were at a work event and should moderate their consumption.
The complaint alleges that Medina made sexual comments about another male employee, grabbed and slapped the co-worker’s “glutes” and later pressed his pelvis against another male employee from behind.
The former employee said he believed that Digital NEST did not adequately address his concerns and eventually asked him to resign.
He sued the nonprofit in Santa Cruz County Superior Court in May 2020, alleging hostile work environment, retaliation, failure to prevent unlawful conduct and constructive wrongful termination.
Allegations denied
During the litigation, Digital NEST denied the allegations. Prior to the publication of this story, CEO Jacob Martinez declined comment. He was not named in the allegations.
In an emailed statement on Sept. 30, Martinez said the matter was resolved in 2021, and that he could not comment further on the specifics of historical litigation or confidential personnel issues.
“We recognize the deeply serious nature of workplace harassment and the impact it has on individuals,” Martinez wrote. “Digital NEST does not tolerate harassment, discrimination, or retaliation of any kind. We uphold that every employee has the absolute right to a safe, respectful, and inclusive work environment. If staff witness or experience behavior that does not align with our values, we ask them to report it immediately through a variety of confidential resources. All reports are handled with immediate and thorough review.”
The accuser opted not to provide comments, citing a nondisclosure provision in the settlement.
His attorney, Santos Gomez, similarly said he was bound by the agreement not to discuss the case. Gomez said only that his office does not file lawsuits unless it believes the cases have merit.
Court records show the parties agreed to settle in late 2021, and the case was subsequently dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled.
Sources familiar with the matter said the payout was in the six figures.
A successful nonprofit
Founded in 2014, Digital NEST (Nurturing Entrepreneurial Skills with Technology) was created to offer a range of technology classes to young people aged 12-24 and prepare them for an evolving job market.
The topics range from video and sound production to computer programming.
The nonprofit had $384,094 in revenues and $248,277 in expenses in 2014, according to public filings. Its budget grew to $4.7 million by 2024.
The organization’s mission is to provide “equal access to technology and resources.” Martinez has said he wants members to enter the job market with several industry contacts under their belts, along with real-world experience.
The organization expanded rapidly, with support from Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the Packard Foundation, the Gilroy Foundation and others. In addition to Watsonville, it also operates in Gilroy, Modesto and Stockton. Martinez said about 4,800 young people have come through its five centers.
A recent Pajaronian story featured a former student who has found success as a software engineer.
Allegations of harassment
The accuser was hired in July 2018 to work with Latino youth. His immediate supervisor was Medina.
The lawsuit alleged that Digital NEST “maintained an environment of alcoholism and unprofessionalism” and described several incidents involving Medina.
The most extensive allegations stemmed from the April 19, 2019, retreat.
During the employee retreat, the accuser alleged that Medina approached him as he tried to avoid Medina.
According to the complaint, Medina put an arm around the accuser’s chest and his right hand on his face. The accuser said he then felt Medina’s fingers moving toward his lips. When he tried to avoid the contact, the complaint states, Medina laughed and stumbled away.
The accuser later complained to Bean, who told him that other employees had also complained and that an investigation would be conducted, according to the lawsuit. The complaint alleged, however, that Digital NEST subsequently minimized what happened.
Medina responds
In an interview with the Pajaronian, Medina disputed significant portions of the accuser’s account while acknowledging that alcohol affected his behavior at the retreat.
Medina said employees had been drinking during the event and that he became intoxicated. He described himself as affectionate when drinking and said he remembered hugging people, but said he did not remember grabbing anyone’s buttocks or engaging in the other sexual touching alleged in the lawsuit.
“I don’t remember grabbing anybody’s glutes,” Medina said.
Asked specifically about allegations of sexual touching described in the complaint, Medina said, “I do not remember any of that.”
Medina said he was going through a difficult period at the time and was using alcohol to cope. He said the incident became a turning point, after which he went to therapy and eventually stopped drinking.
He also said he apologized to the accuser.
“If you felt like that, I already gave him my full apology,” Medina said. “Those were never my intentions.”
Asked about the allegation that he called himself the “gay Trump” and said he grabbed men by the genitals, Medina said he did not remember making the remark but added, “I’m always joking. So if it was said, I’m pretty sure it was a joking banter.”
Complaint and investigation
According to the lawsuit, Digital NEST placed Medina on administrative leave while an investigation was underway. The organization also arranged for the accuser to see a psychologist at its expense.
Medina returned to work May 9, 2019 after Bean said there were several tasks that Medina needed to return to the office to finish, according to the complaint.
The accuser alleged that because the two worked in the same office, he worried about being left alone with Medina and feared retaliation or another confrontation.
The complaint also describes a series of restorative justice meetings involving the accuser, Medina and other employees. The complainant alleged that the process made him feel pressured to forgive Medina and that his concerns were not adequately addressed.
At one meeting, according to the lawsuit, Medina acknowledged behaving inappropriately and attributed his behavior to drinking and blacking out. “I don’t know, I guess I was horny that night,” he joked.
Staff members laughed at that, the complaint says, and none of the facilitators interrupted to correct the remark.
The complaint says the accuser “felt disgusted, angered and paralyzed” by Medina’s behavior.
Medina told the Pajaronian that he does not remember many of the actions attributed to him.
“I don’t recognize the person that you all are telling me,” he said.
Retaliation alleged
The accuser alleged that after he complained about Medina, Digital NEST increasingly focused on his job performance and recruitment numbers.
He said he was uncomfortable recruiting young people into programs in which they might interact with Medina. The complaint states that he told the organization he did not want to recommend programs to parents and minors because he could not guarantee they would be free of harassment.
Medina disputed the suggestion that the accuser’s recruitment performance was scrutinized because of his complaint.
He said the accuser was generally a strong recruiter and “fantastic” with students but struggled with outreach to some groups, including the LGBTQ+ community.
“He was great at recruiting and going out to like sports events and clubs,” Medina said. “Other than that, he was fantastic.”
Medina said he turned supervision of the accuser over to others after the incident because he did not want him to believe that subsequent criticism amounted to retaliation.
The accuser formally resigned in October 2019 after being asked to do so. He later alleged that the circumstances amounted to constructive wrongful termination.
Digital NEST denies allegations
Digital NEST issued a general denial when it formally responded to the lawsuit in July 2020, disputing “each and every allegation” and denying that the former employee suffered damages for which the organization was legally responsible.
The response did not give Digital NEST’s account of the underlying incidents or specifically respond to each allegation against Medina. Instead, the organization raised 17 affirmative defenses.
Among other things, Digital NEST said that it took reasonable steps to prevent and correct harassment and retaliation and that the plaintiff failed to take advantage of available preventive or corrective measures. It also maintained that employment decisions involving him were based on legitimate, nondiscriminatory and nonretaliatory reasons.
Digital NEST further argued that the accuser’s own conduct may have contributed to his claimed damages, and it raised several procedural defenses. The court never ruled on those allegations or defenses because the case was settled and dismissed.
The settlement ended the litigation without a trial or adjudicating the truthfulness of the allegations.
Defense attorneys Ernest Malaspina and Jennifer Coleman did not respond to a request for comment.
Sexual violence of any kind is inherently harmful and must be confronted at every organizational level. This article emerges precisely as two other high-profile sexual assault cases are dominating public discourse. However, it fails to clarify a critical link: how does this specific case connect to public education or the school system? The matter has already been litigated and resolved through a legal settlement.
How can our newsroom produce impactful journalism that truly resonates with the community, rather than chasing sensationalized narratives? As it stands, the coverage feels less like objective reporting and more like a targeted hit piece—a direct reaction to Medina’s outspoken advocacy for equity and accountability on the Board, values he has consistently championed and put into practice.
At the very least, it questions his denials to the many voices that have said he acts like Trump. He thinks he does too.
If Medina is innocent, he and Digital Nest could lift the non disclosure agreement and let the accuser talk. Just like Trump could.
Medina seems to want to hold everyone accountable except himself. There have already been multiple reports of him being abusive at other places of his former work, including movie sets and as a trustee at PVUSD. He has been abusive and broken ties even with Watsonville Film Festival. He has had censures against him as a PVUSD. He has exhibited abusive and misogynistic behavior towards fellow trustees and PVUSD employees. Now this has come out about extremely harmful and egregious behavior. His replies in this article are disgusting and inexcusable. Examples like Cesar Chavez and Bill Crosby shows us that men can be criminals and abusers and hide behind a public persona/facade of activism and “growth.” Sexual abusers aren’t abusers because of alcohol.
Someone like him should not belong on campuses around our children and staff. I agree with his accuser who had concerns about recruiting youth into the DigitalNest program because he felt they would not be safe around Medina. Recall him!
Yet this individual is allowed to continue in a public position even though his behaviors do not change. Just watch how he acts at Board meetings – he is an embarrassment to anyone who holds an elected position. He harasses women, continues to create hostile work environments for anyone working at Pajaro Valley that he disagrees with and retaliates by pulling agenda items and publicly berating people instead of seeking to understand them. Clearly this individual has not learned his lesson and is a danger to the community and our students. He should be removed immediately. Our kids deserve better!!
This man has full access to PVUSD students, BTW.
Accountability cannot stop with one individual. Digital NEST also needs to answer for how it responded when an employee raised serious allegations of sexual misconduct and said he did not feel safe. According to this reporting, the organization allowed Medina to return to the workplace, and the complainant alleged that his concerns were minimized and that he felt pressured to forgive him through a restorative justice process. That deserves serious scrutiny on its own.
It is especially concerning given that Digital NEST’s mission centers young people, including minors. An organization entrusted with creating opportunities and safe spaces for youth has an even greater responsibility to ensure that its workplace culture, leadership practices, and response to misconduct actually reflect that responsibility. Protecting an institution’s reputation should never come before protecting the people within it.
Your are delusional if you believe he is going to resign. Just like those who want Trump to resign. He will double down on the oppression he is facing. His sycophants from UCSC will back him up. The school board will do nothing, because they are afraid of him and his supporters.
Concerned Parent: The teachers in PVUSD have been aware of this issue for a while (as rumors) and have been instructing boys not to be alone with him.
Medina quotes,
“I grab guys by the balls” and called himself the “gay Trump”
“So if that was said, I’m pretty sure it was a joking banter” in reference to being asked about making light of Trump’s own sexual misconduct and abuse
“I don’t know, I guess I was horny that night” in reference to the victim’s complaint of being sexually abused
“If you felt like that, I already gave him (Medina’s victim) my full apology”
This doesn’t sound like someone who is taking accountability. Medina is an abuser and I stand with his victims.
Using alcoholism as an excuse for sexual assault is not ok. Medina’s current activism does not absolve him of being an abuser. Especially when he is currently also accused of retaliatory, abusive and misogynistic behavior as a PVUSD board member.
Why have so many organizations cut ties with him? Like Watsonville Film Festival and others in the arts community? Could there be more victims we don’t know about?
I stand with the victims strong enough to come forward. Medina should not be around our youth.
He should not be near young boys. He is a predator.
Maybe it’s time to recall Medina from the PVUSD Board. I don’t want this guy near youth!
I’m honestly so confused about all the people making excuses for this person being a sexual abuser. I don’t understand, especially post “Me Too” and Medina’s own statements in the article being defensive and gross. Y’all are no better than Trump MAGA supporters who excuse all the pedophiles and sexual abusers in politics because they are in the same political party. I’m so disappointed in this community.
That would explain his abhorrent behavior at some of the PVUSD meetings. He’s an untreated alcoholic who belittles and demeans everybody.
Yup…for people with experience working with individuals with substance abuse and personality disorders, this behavior is both disturbing and predictable. Abstaining from substances alone does not change the behavior or the associated thinking. This is much more than a grandstanding political activist choosing a contrarian mindset. Leadership is about collaboration, listening, and a focus on solutions and problem solving. What the public has witnessed is airing dirty laundry, attacking colleagues, mindless power plays, rage, and perpetual victimhood. There is very little evidence of any emotional intelligence. It is no secret that PVUSD has been on the state’s radar for decades because of the adult dysfunction. There have been rumors of a state takeover for academic reasons for years. This individual has been an opportunist pandering to the anger of a vocal minority. It is clear that this district will not move forward until this kind of disruptive behavior is addressed.
I myself have been calling Medina the Trump of the left! Little did I know he actually called himself that, allegedly. You can’t make this stuff up. Medina needs to get out! He is self-righteous and dangerous under the guise of being an ally to Teacher and students.
P Diddy Medina!
This seems to be a hit piece! I noticed how none of the other news outlets grabbed onto this. The Pajaronian is already struggling, why throw slop?
If the facts are against you, argue the law. If the law is against you, argue the facts. If the law and facts are against you, pound the table and yell like hell.
Todd Guild will write anything to get his horrible newspaper up. Good to see the Aptos people come on out and show how they can’t hold their own to account. Medina put in the work, made the changes he needed to, yet most of the people coming after him have a past, it’s just not public. Medina calls out folks which they don’t like and I can see how they’ve come together to try getting at him. All while dealing with this hit piece he is grieving with his family over the loss of his grandmother. Todd must really hate Medina to resurface this from years ago while he is dealing with his loss. No respect.
If the paper is so bad, why does Medina use it so much? He has promoted his films and defended himself against multiple accusations using this platform. Did it used to be a good paper last year, when Guild was giving him a free platform? Now that he cannot escape how bad these actions look, he is attacking the messenger. Sounds a lot like another politician we know. Perhaps Sensationalism and Michael should evaluate what they are defending here. Even they do not dispute the accusations. Instead they chant “Fake News!” If you are trying to lose your Trump image, maybe this is the wrong approach. It is long past time we stop supporting demagogues.
It’s interesting that the pajaronian would run this but not the fact that Mysty Navarro has done worse this year and has not faced the music like Medina has. They’re all trying to bring him down and the hypocrites here in the comments. When are people going to hold her accountable? Medina came out and apologized, when has Navarro apologized for anything?
She violated HIPPA which is why they let her go at her job. Where is the coverage on Navarro making the only black woman on the board feel so small. She can apologize for being a horrible person yet no one will hold her to account because the system would rather punish brown and black bodies while other get away with everything and not held to the same standard. This was a hit piece on Medina, and it’s a shame the pajaronian can hold people who look like them accountable. Sound very prejudice and bigoted to me.