Posted on 10/17/2002 4:23:24 AM PDT by fone
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One day after school, she later recalled, the boy came home with a broken belt. Another time, his underpants were on backward and soiled.
On April 21, the grandmother said, she overheard the boy ask his 8-year-old brother to "get the two fifth-graders that are hurting me." When she questioned the boy, he told a horrific story.
Over the previous month, two older classmates - one 10, the other 11 - repeatedly raped him in the school lavatory. They yanked down his pants and, as one boy held him, the other sodomized him, the little boy said.
The boy later told police that the two older boys raped him about 10 times. When he tried to tell a teacher about the attacks, she rebuffed him: "No tattle-tales," she said, according to the police report.
Yesterday, the boy and his mother filed a $2 million lawsuit against the Cleveland Board of Education, accusing school administrators of negligence for failing to provide security adequate to prevent the rapes.
"To think that this sort of thing could go on in a school is unbelievable," said Maple Heights attorney David Pomerantz, who represents the boy and his mother. "It's unconscionable that this happened to him, but it's equally unconscionable that a school would allow it to happen. Obviously, they should be supervising kids better in bathrooms."
Reports of the sexual attacks first came to light on April 22, when the boy's grandmother took him to Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital and a doctor there called police.
Detectives from the police Sex Crimes Unit investigated, and the boy's accused attackers were charged with rape in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court. They are awaiting trial.
Pomerantz said a case worker from Children and Family Services substantiated the boy's allegations. An agency spokesman, however, said there was no record of the case being investigated or reported.
Schools spokesman Dan Minnich said neither of the boys accused in the case currently attends Cleveland schools. One has been placed at the Berea Children's Home; Minnich didn't know the other's whereabouts. As soon as the allegations were raised, he said, the district launched an internal investigation with Cleveland police, and the boys were removed from Charles Dickens.
Ward 3 City Councilman Zachary Reed, who represents the Mount Pleasant neighborhood around the school, said the allegations are shocking, but shouldn't detract from the area's revitalization.
"Anything can happen in a big-league city," he said. "We need to ensure that nothing like this ever happens in a school here ever again."
I believe this story was on FR in April when the attack occurred, this is just a follow-up.
"Anything can happen in a big-league city," he said.
Yeah, this puts you in the big leagues, all right.
Let's see, an individual worker tells the lawyer that it did happen.... but the agency says they know nothing?
One of the two is lying. My guess is the agency.
Stay safe; stay armed.
When he tried to tell a teacher about the attacks, she rebuffed him: "No tattle-tales," she said, according to the police report.Give 'er a break.
She was only trying to promote tolerance and diversity.
That seems to sum it up. They know nothing. Although I doubt anyone will lose their job over this, including the teacher hellbent on not having a classroom of tattletales.
Unfortunately, these two will no doubt end up in the juvie system until they are 18, and will burden the taxpayers with prison terms the rest of their lives. They have recidivist written all over them. Scum.
She should be promoted to the unemployment line, if not bordering on criminal charges (failure to report...). My guess is the union will fight to keep her job. God help the children left in her care. Words escape me.
Absolutely. I'm so glad I homeschool my three wonderful little boys. None of that "socialization" going on here.
disgusting.
Yes, like the T.V., the internet, 100,000 porn web sites, movies with "R" ratings.
I hope you are not thinking the attackers were victims, at least not till it is proven.
FWIW, I went to elementary school in the adjoining neighborhood. I know, it was way back in the 60's but I just cannot fathom what the he// is going on in these inner city schools these days (that's not to imply that it doesn't happen elsewhere).
Animals. Where are the parents of these two perps?
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