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Look at how tolerant the school district is -- diversity in mentorship programs means they can't discriminate against queers and child molesters.

Saturday, September 21, 2002

Mother of raped boy files claim against schools

(AP) TACOMA -- The mother of an 11-year-old boy whose designated mentor was convicted of raping him has filed a $20 million claim against the Sumner School District, the first step toward a potential lawsuit.

A discipline plan established by McAlder Elementary School teachers and administrators for the troubled boy in September 1997 says janitor Larry Lee Eche volunteered to serve as his mentor, according to the claim, which was filed Wednesday.

Court documents show that Eche was convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor in 1976, and a drug possession charge in Alaska in 1995 was dropped after he became a police informant.

The mother's lawyer, Monte Hester, said school officials were careless in deciding to use Eche as a mentor.

"Something has to be done to make sure it doesn't happen to another youngster," Hester said.

According to the claim, the mother notified school officials when Eche began spending time alone with her son at his home and at a motel, only to have her warnings ignored.

She then obtained a restraining order against Eche and the school system and later transferred her son to another school.

In 1999, Eche pleaded guilty to first- and second-degree rape of the child over the previous two years. He is serving a 13-year prison sentence.

School officials have 60 days to respond.