JCHS student sues district for negligence after letting abuser sign out student for early release
The family of a student at Jefferson City High School is suing the school district for negligence after the student’s abuser apparently signed the student out of school early by posing as a guardian and subsequently sexually abused the victim.
The lawsuit claims that on four different occasions the abuser called Jefferson City High School and pretended to be the teenager’s father. The abuser apparently asked that the student be dismissed from school but the reason he gave is unknown.
The lawsuit says Jefferson City High School did not ask the abuser for identification.
“The Abuser was never [the student’s] parent, guardian, designee of her parent or guardian, or other individual permitted or required by law to release [the student] from school,” the lawsuit states.
On all four occasions, the student was released from class. Court documents say the victim then went to the abuser’s house and had sex.
According to the Jefferson City High School student handbook, “students shall not be excused into any person’s custody without the direct prior approval and knowledge of the building principal or designee.”
“We cannot comment on litigation,” Dr. Larry Linthacum, Superintendent for JCPS, told ABC 17 News. “However, we are committed to ensure a safe and positive learning environment for all students.”
“If they [the district] had just followed the policies they have this would not have happened,” Dan Rhoads, an attorney for the victim’s family, told ABC 17 News. “Ultimately we would love for the school district to admit what it did wrong and apologize to the family.”
