EUREKA, Mo. — The Rockwood School District is being sued for allegedly ignoring sex abuse allegations. The lawsuit claims the district knew about the abuse.
The student is suing the Rockwood School District and the Special School District, alleging both did nothing to stop the sexual abuse that a former custodian at Eureka High School was accused of years ago.
Robert Smith, 50, was charged with first-degree sexual abuse in connection with the alleged incident on Feb. 11, 2022.
St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell's office said the former custodian inappropriately touched a student with Down Syndrome, who is nonverbal.
"We have a special obligation to take care of the most vulnerable in our society," Bell said in the release in 2022. "Anyone who takes advantage of an individual with special needs in St. Louis County will be held accountable by this office."
The nearly 20-page lawsuit, filed on Friday, goes into detail of the abuse claiming multiple employees witnessed the abuse happening and did nothing about it. The lawsuit also said Rockwood and SSD knew about the disturbing behavior and still allowed Smith to work at the district.
The incident allegedly happened in a special needs classroom at Eureka High School. The lawsuit also mentions the emotional and physical damages the victim is still dealing with to this day.
In the state of Missouri, teachers are mandated reporters of suspected sexual abuse.
"The statute says when you have reasonable suspicion you have to immediately make that call," said Amy Robins, director of forensic services with the Child Advocacy Center's of Northeast Missouri.
"...It's everyone's responsibility including agencies to make sure that they have codes of conduct and things in place to minimize risks to every child in their building. Especially those that are more at risk or vulnerable and having those special needs or diagnosis."
Since being charged, Smith no longer works at the district.
Previously in a statement, Rockwood School District officials said, in part, "The district takes any report of potentially criminal behavior — whether by staff or students — very seriously.”
This isn't the only legal battle the district is in right now. A separate lawsuit was filed by a former Eureka High School football player and his mother in January 2024. They claim Rockwood also did nothing to stop sexual harassment and hazing at the school for nearly two years.
"Ultimately we know that it's a natural human inclination to try to give someone the benefit of the doubt, or dismiss, especially when it's a coworker or someone who you work alongside," Robins said.
That's why she tells every child who comes to the Child Advocacy Center's of Northeast Missouri the same thing.
"Find a safe person that you can tell and keep telling until that abuse stops," she said.
The Child Advocacy Center has a list of resources for child sexual abuse victims on its website.
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