Posted on 07/13/2004 12:12:30 AM PDT by weegee
Parents claim HISD cover-up in son's alleged rape Suit says autistic boy, 13, attacked at summer school
By HARVEY RICE
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
The parents of a developmentally disabled, autistic boy filed a federal lawsuit Monday accusing HISD of covering up an investigation into allegations that he was sodomized during a summer school program two years ago.
"It's frightening knowing whoever hurt my child is around other people's children," said the boy's 40-year-old mother.
The Houston woman and her 47-year-old husband allege in their lawsuit that their son was attacked a day before his 14th birthday while attending Camp We All summer school at Waltrip High School.
The boy is unable to communicate because of his handicaps and could not tell his parents or investigators what happened.
The lawsuit alleges that the Houston Independent School District failed to provide information that would have allowed investigators to determine who took the child out of the classroom that day.
HISD spokeswoman Adriana Villarreal said she could not comment because the school district hasn't received a copy of the lawsuit.
Estella Olguin, spokeswoman for Harris County Children's Protective Services, said the school district cooperated with a CPS investigation and conducted its own investigation.
The CPS investigation concluded that a preponderance of evidence showed that the boy was raped.
The boy was agitated and disruptive during a computer lab the day of the alleged assault so an assistant principal gave permission for him to be taken out of the class for a walk, according to the CPS report.
The report also said bruising on the boy's wrists appeared to show that he was held down and a bruise on his outer thigh appeared to be caused when he was pinned down.
The plaintiffs' lawyer, Randal Kallinen, said his clients notified the school district the day of the alleged assault. They want to know why the school district was unable to determine what happened to the boy when he was taken from the classroom, he said.
"Are they saying that a few hours later no one knows who took him out of the classroom?" Kallinen asked.
Houston Police Department spokesman Alvin Wright said the case was inactive but open. Police were unable to identify a suspect because the victim is unable to communicate and no DNA evidence was found, Wright said.
Kallinen said the parents hope to force the school district to change its policies to ensure that other disabled children won't be subjected to sexual abuse.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
Houston PING
end public schools now.
The CPS investigation concluded that a preponderance of evidence showed that the boy was raped.
It's entirely possible. However, how come the police don't know who took the kid out of the classroom - especially when they say that it was likely that he was raped. Sounds like an especially incompetent investigation or the school is stonewalling...
Coming to a school near you?
http://www.wacotrib.com/news/newsfd/auto/feed/news/2004/07/11/1089524083.18121.3063.1853.html;COXnetJSessionID=AzDoqfAd1rikNASHcpFCtSAIqdF1ipp0K1O4nHBkD80hUY3GD1nZ!-1759833846?urac=n&urvf=10897170966520.5024010251367317
Well, that settles it.
Sounds like another case for Perry's CPS investigation team to handle. (State of Texas is investigating CPS!) If this had been a family instead of HISD....
This piece only suggests this teenager was having a bad day and needed to be restrained.
Where's the evidence of "sexual assault"?
HSID = Houston Schools Independent District.
Right?
Never mind that posting. The alphabet soup is eventually explained in the article. I'm still asleep.
You will need to contact the CPS, police, or family yourself for further details. In the absence of the name of the family, it is difficult to search for articles on this case.
I don't doubt the nature of the evidence and will no be searching for further reports.
http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou040712_mh_hisdsexassault.2f0515f5f.html
Parents say HISD employee raped autistic child
05:35 PM CDT on Monday, July 12, 2004
From 11 News Staff Reports
HOUSTON -- A Houston family claims an HISD employee raped their autistic child and says the school district did little to investigate.
It allegedly happened during a summer camp at Waltrip High School two years ago.
The family says Children's Protective Services and a local hospital confirmed the 14-year-old boy was sexually assaulted, but a suspect was never identified.
Now the family, who doesn't want to be identified to protect the child, is suing the school district for civil rights viiolations.
"It's frightening, you know -- knowing that whoever hurt my child is still out there around other people's children," said the boy's mother.
An HISD spokesman said the district had not been served with the lawsuit and therefore could not comment.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.