JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) — A second child has come forward alleging they were sexually abused on a Greater Clark County Schools bus transporting special needs students.
Attorney Larry Wilder, who represents the family, said the latest alleged incident involves a 7-year-old student who claims they were molested by an eighth-grade student — also with special needs — last spring on bus number 210 on the way to New Washington Schools.
“What we know is only what happened during a two-week period,” Wilder said. “So we don’t know how many other victims there may be.”
Wilder alleges a bus monitor was distracted by a cell phone at the time of the incident, but surveillance video captured what happened. He said the children involved have difficulty articulating what happened — and may not even understand it was wrong.
“You have young people who have these special needs, who can’t articulate clearly things that have happened,” Wilder said. “But more importantly, don’t necessarily understand what was happening was something that was wrong.”
The case could result in criminal charges, but it will be up to the prosecutor to determine whether the eighth-grade student will be tried as an adult. Wilder compared the case to a recent incident in Jennings County, where a teen was charged with sexually assaulting a student on a bus in April.
Greater Clark County Schools declined to comment, citing potential litigation.
"Greater Clark County Schools has no comment and will not discuss any pending or future litigation," the district released in a statement to WDRB.
Wilder said he expects a third alleged victim to come forward soon. The district has 90 days to resolve the matter before a formal lawsuit is filed. A separate lawsuit involving the first alleged victim on the same bus is already underway.
“These parents feel like they failed their children,” Wilder said. “And the reality is the school corporation failed them.”
In addition to policy changes, the families are seeking $700,000 in damages.
"This child was supposed to be protected," Wilder said. "Instead, the Greater Clark County Schools failed to take reasonable and required steps to prevent the horrendous attack by another student."
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