CRAWFORD COUNTY, Mo. — James Philpot was a convicted sex offender, and the Crawford County R-1 School District hired him to drive a school bus in 2021 anyway.
He molested a 7-year-old student on the bus in 2023.
And now the district is paying the victim millions before the issue ever goes to court.
“It's incredibly significant, especially given the protections that public entities enjoy under the law and in circumstances like this,” said Grant Boyd, the victim’s attorney. “It closes this chapter for them without having to risk the potential re-traumatization of this poor girl through the litigation process.
“And we're grateful that the district saw that.”
Court documents show the school district of about 1,300 students agreed to pay the victim a $3.1 million settlement Friday.
Philpot pleaded guilty to child molestation in February and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He is 73 years old.
Boyd says more needs to be done to prevent a sex offender from ever being hired to work around children again.
“I do think that we need to look at broadening the list of criminal offenses that automatically disqualify someone from working in the education industry with children,” he said. “I think it should be looked into as to the people that played a part in this.
“There were other people involved in the situation that should answer some questions about why this happened.”
Superintendent Cole Byassee declined 5 On Your Side’s request for an interview, and sent a statement, which read: "The District is pleased that we were able to reach a resolution with the family involved in this situation. However, we are unable to comment further on this matter at this time."
He also confirmed Philpot worked for the district for 19 months – from Oct. 5, 2021, until he was terminated on May 3, 2023.
Boyd noted Byassee was not the superintendent when Philpot got hired.
“Based on what we have, and what we've reviewed, it indicates the school district absolutely knew about these convictions for these prior sex offenses before this happened to our clients,” Boyd said. “There seemed to be some kind of indication given to the family by someone at the district that they were only looking at things that occurred in the last 20 to 25 years.”
Philpot’s sex offenses date to the 1960s and 1970s. In 1968, he was charged with indecent exposure. In 1972, he was convicted of assault with intent to rape. Both offenses happened in California, according to court documents.
He molested his victim in Crawford County three times between April 27 and 28, 2023, and surveillance cameras captured the assaults, Boyd said.
“The video captured him driving the school bus and her sitting on his lap, while he abused her, and while he was driving the bus,” Boyd said. “There was at least one or more other children on the bus each time.”
Boyd said the victim’s parents noticed some physical signs that their daughter had been abused, which led to an investigation.
The district settled with the family after the family filed a charge with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights – before the agency ever gave them a right-to-sue letter.
“There's no amount of money that can ever rewind the clock for child sexual abuse survivor, but with this settlement, it will ensure that whatever this girl needs moving forward in her life, and whatever she wants to pursue, whatever her passions are, she will not have a single impediment.”
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