One of New York’s most elite high schools is refusing to take responsibility for the sexual abuse of numerous students by one of its teachers, claiming that whatever harm the students’ suffered was due to their own recklessness and “negligence.”
The Daily Caller is reporting on the position being taken by administrators at Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, New York, which has been rated as the country’s best public high school, in support of Christopher Schraufnagel, a a popular drama teacher at the school.
In a lawsuit filed against the Chappaqua Central School District, several students are suing for abuse suffered at the hands of Schraufnagel when they were 15 years-old. They claim that he groped the students, pressured them to perform oral sex on him, asked them for photos of their genitals, and provided students with drugs and alcohol on school grounds. They also allege that he forced them to play secret games such as “Train Wreck” and “Sick Secret Santa.”
Schraufnagel, 41, resigned his teaching position in September after spending the summer on paid leave. He was arrested by New Castle police in October and charged with one felony count of third-degree criminal sex act and sex misdemeanors ranging from endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree sexual abuse. Although the case is pending, Schraufnagel still has not be indicted for the crimes and he continues to deny any wrongdoing. Hоwеvеr, іf уоu аrе a defendant іn a criminal proceeding, уоu need thе assistance оf a qualified criminal defense lawyer, regardless оf уоur guilt оr innocence, so visit this Homepage.
Christopher Schraufnagel
The victims say the school should have monitored Schraufnagel more closely and by failing to do so, they allowed the abuse to continue for years.
However, the school district’s response, according to newly-filed documents, has been to argue that the victims brought the abuse on themselves.
If the injuries stated in the complaint occurred, “ . . . said injuries and damages were caused or contributed to by the carelessness, recklessness, negligence and/or assumption of the risk, both implied or expressed,” the district contends.
A mother of one of the victims reacted with fury to the district’s insinuation that her son is to blame for his abuse.
“How could you possibly think a child could be to blame for this, in what you think is a safe environment?” the anonymous mother told NBC4 News on Tuesday.
She also said that Schraufnagel introduced her son to cocaine, which led to a near-fatal overdose.
Despite a furious backlash against their legal claim, Chappaqua Central School District is refusing to comment on the matter.
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