Legal Analysis By Attorneys
Breaking Legal News
According to the Indiana Gazette, an Indiana Area School District teacher has been arrested and charged with sexual abuse.
Patrick Joseph McKee, 60-years-old, has been charged for allegedly sexually abusing a male victim for years, beginning when the victim was 13-years-old. McKee taught at Ben Franklin Elementary for many years and then taught at Horace Mann Elementary before retiring in 2020.
Police reported the victim accused McKee of sexually assaulting him on multiple occasions. The alleged victim met McKee at youth sporting functions, and McKee allegedly groomed the victim before inviting him to his residence.
McKee was ordered to be held in Indiana County Jail pending his hearing.
Attorney Brian Kent, an experienced sexual abuse lawyer, has represented numerous victims who have been sexually abused by a teacher. In an interview, Brian shared his insight on the legal options of victims of abuse and their families. Below are his thoughts:
“Parents send their children to school and trust the staff to provide a safe environment for learning. Besides the parents’ trust, schools have a legal obligation to uphold the safety of those enrolled in their school. Unfortunately, across the country, many teachers have been reported for sexually abusing a student. Schools must do their best to keep students safe; to ensure their safety, they must implement security measures. For example, school guards, cameras, and reporting systems.”
“Victims who have been sexually abused should explore their legal options and secure the services of an experienced sexual abuse lawyer. Sometimes when sexual abuse occurs it is a result of negligence on behalf of a third party (e.g., an employer). An example of negligence is not having proper security measures in place. If a school fails to implement proper security, it may be deemed negligent. In negligence cases, victims and their families should know they may have grounds for a civil lawsuit against the school.”
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