Ansley Public Schools Pays $650,000 Over Alleged Student Rape
A 14-year-old boy who allegedly raped a student had a documented history of threatening to rape another student and a pregnant teacher.
ANSLEY, Neb. — Ansley Public Schools has paid $650,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed by a mother alleging it didn’t protect her daughter from sexual assault.
The mother alleges her 15-year-old daughter, who receives special education services for an intellectual and secondary disability, was raped by another student with a documented history of threatening to commit rape, reports Lincoln Journal Star.
The girl was attending a basketball game in 2017 when she was raped in a bathroom by a 14-year-old student, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit also says the student threatened to kill the girl if she told anyone. The victim told an adult and police opened an investigation. As a result, the boy was adjudicated through juvenile court and removed from the school.
According to the lawsuit, the boy had a history of violent and aggressive behavior. Less than a year before the alleged 2017 attack, he threatened to rape another female student on school grounds and to rape a pregnant teacher. Students also told officials that the boy openly talked about his fantasies of kidnapping, imprisoning and making pornographic videos of him raping his classmates.
The student was required to have constant supervision during school hours, including clearing the bathrooms before he was allowed to use them, according to ABC 8. However, school officials did not have a plan for after-hours school events and no disciplinary actions were taken against him for the earlier reported threats, the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit, which was filed in 2019, also alleged the district violated the girl’s civil rights and Title IX protections by not investigating the prior complaints against the male student. As a result, the suit says the girl had to seek psychological support. In addition to physical injuries, she also continues to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and continual nightmares, depression, debilitating fear and anxiety.
The suit was filed against the school district, former superintendent Dave Mroczek, former Principal Lance Bristol and the board of education. It was dismissed last week as part of the settlement, which included payment through the district’s insurance’s risk liability pool.
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About the Author
Amy Rock, Executive Editor
Amy is Campus Safety’s Executive Editor. Prior to joining the editorial team in 2017, she worked in both events and digital marketing.
Amy has many close relatives and friends who are teachers, motivating her to learn and share as much as she can about campus security. She has a minor in education and has worked with children in several capacities, further deepening her passion for keeping students safe.
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