Two federal lawsuits have been filed against the Raymore-Peculiar School District.
According to one lawsuit, a 16-year-old girl said she was raped by a fellow student inside a classroom at the high school during a basketball game in January 2015.
The girl said she alerted school officials on the day of the alleged assault.
Peculiar police said they investigated the alleged assault and gave its findings to the Cass County Juvenile Court.
In a second lawsuit, a 15-year-old girl said she was also sexually assaulted by the same student on a school bus one year earlier in January 2014.
The district sent 41 Action News the following statement:
“The district was made aware of two lawsuits filed on January 6. One of the lawsuits raises allegations about an incident that occurred two years ago, and the other lawsuit raises allegations about an incident that occurred a year ago. Both incidents were addressed at the time they were raised in a manner consistent with district policies and procedures. The incidents were reported to both the Missouri Commission on Human Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last summer and, following their administrative review, no findings have been issued against the district. The male student involved has not attended Ray-Pec High School since January of 2015.”
However, both lawsuits allege school officials knew the boy in question was involved with at least four other incidents of sexual assault prior to the two teenagers' claims. The lawsuits also claim the boy told the vice principal, "I did it again," and "I can't seem to stop," after one of those alleged assaults.
The 41 Action News investigators reached out to the court about the allegations. A juvenile officer told us the boy was taken into custody and charged, however she could not comment further.
According to the lawsuits, the two girls were bullied by fellow classmates following their claims. The 15-year-old eventually switched schools, and the 16-year-old girl no longer participates in after school activities as a result.
------
Jessica McMaster can be reached at jessica.mcmaster@kshb.com.
