The author is literally saying they didn't witness any sexual assault. The next sentence they describe witnessing sexual assault. That might not register to a

The author is literally saying they didn't witness any sexual assault. The next sentence they describe witnessing sexual assault. That might not register to a 17 year old who was raised in a culture that minimizes/hides sexual assault but the author is 40 now. They should be able to recognize what they saw for what it was and not continue to minimize it. If they haven't learned that fondling someone without their consent was wrong then and is wrong now they haven't learned anything.