A former male teacher convicted of molesting a 14-year-old girl reportedly kept a list of the “top 10” most attractive students at his workplace.
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AÂ lawsuit claims school administrators ignored the actions of Ronald Paul Harris’ behavior during his time as a history teacher and basketball coach at Oak Glen Middle School in New Cumberland. According to the New York Post, the 63-year-old teacher is serving a 10 to 20-year sentence after confessing September to sexually abusing a high school student in 2010 who worked as a classroom helper.
The 27-year-old victim filed a lawsuit against the Hancock West Virginia Board of Education and then-middle school principal David Smith, who was promoted to high school principal. She also claims school administrators failed to protect her from Smith, and her lawyers believe there are other victims.
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“To learn that your child was groomed and sexually abused by a teacher is beyond awful. It’s made even more terrible knowing that the administrator at the time of the abuse was in a position to stop the abuse or prevent future instances of abuse and instead turned a blind eye,” her attorney Mary Pat Statlet said in a statement to the outlet.
The victim, identified as E.H., said Harris started to express romantic feelings towards her after she started her job as a classroom helper and claimed he was saving money so they could eloper when she turned 18. The sexual abuse started on ten separate occasions, and Smith witnessed one incident but reportedly turned a “blind eye.”
Her attorneys also said it was common knowledge that Harris would masturbate on school grounds and kept a list of the most attractive middle school students. The school is accused of failing to take action against him. Additionally, it states his marriage to a former student should’ve put administrators on “notice about his character and moral turpitude.”
The state of West Virginia has taken steps to protect children from sexual abuse by implementing mandatory reporting laws. Anyone who suspects or has knowledge of child abuse must report it to law enforcement or child protective services immediately. Failure to report suspected child abuse is a crime in itself.
West Virginia also has a statute of limitations for child sex abuse crimes. In most cases, victims have until age 22 to file a lawsuit against their abuser. However, the state recently passed a law that extends the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases. Under the new law, victims have until 30 to file a lawsuit against their abuser or within five years of discovering the abuse, whichever comes first.
Additionally, West Virginia has enacted laws to protect children from online sexual exploitation. The state’s laws prohibit producing, distributing, and possessing child pornography. The laws also make it illegal for adults to solicit or groom children for sexual activity online.
The state of West Virginia also provides resources for victims of child sex abuse. The West Virginia Child Advocacy Network is a non-profit organization providing support and advocacy for child abuse victims. They work with local law enforcement and child protective services to ensure victims receive the necessary help and support.