A teacher at Elolf Elementary School was arrested on Wednesday, Anjalih 4, for allegedly inappropriately touching a student. 33-year-old Ryan Patrick England has been charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child.
The father of an 8-year-old student contacted police to report that England had allegedly inappropriately touched his daughter. The victim told police that England had touched her private parts several times. The alleged abuse happened both during and after school during "Adventure Club" time, according to the police.
England also reportedly gave the victim snacks and told her to keep the abuse a secret.
The Judson Independent School District sent a letter to parents yesterday regarding the allegations against England, announcing that he has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Attorney contributor Anjali Nigam represents sex abuse victims and their families in civil lawsuits against sexual predators and negligent third parties. Anjali has offered to share some information on the legal rights of students who have been sexually abused by teachers:
Teachers are expected to be positive influences in the lives of their students. While most teachers live up to this expectation, there have also been far too many cases of predatory teachers sexually abusing students.
School officials must stay aware of the fact that sexual predators often seek out positions in education and other fields that involve working with children. These officials must do everything they can to protect students from these predators.
When a teacher is charged with sexually abusing a student, it's important both to prosecute the teacher and to determine if the school's negligence played a role in the abuse. For example, a school could be considered negligent for failing to report previous suspicions of inappropriate behavior involving the accused teacher.
In cases where negligence was involved, school sex abuse victims and their families may have grounds for a lawsuit against the school district.
If you or a loved one has been sexually abused by a teacher, you can learn more about your legal rights in a free consultation with one of our experienced sex abuse victims lawyers.