A student in Wyoming has sued the School District after she was subjected to over three years of sexual assault by Joseph “Joe” Meza, who is incarcerated until at least 2038 for his crimes. You can read more about the lawsuit in the Casper Star Tribune.
The suit alleges that Laramie County School District No. 1 officials, including administrators at Johnson Junior High, were aware that teacher Joseph Meza’s relationship with the victim was inappropriate and that it violated district and professional standards. It alleges that administrators spoke with Meza repeatedly but never investigated or disciplined him for his personal relationship with the victim, which manifested in close contact at the school and drew the attention of staff and students.
We have seen this before – schools turn a blind eye to actions by teachers and coaches to lure students to their rooms and private locations. Teachers have been accused of:
- Placing locks on their doors
- Covering classroom windows with paper
- Signing notes to teachers to ask for students to come to their rooms during free period for extra help
- Planning overnight trips and arranging the student to have his or her own room in the hotel
- Texting, Snapping and other messaging with the student
The suit involving Mr. Meza alleges that district officials were aware of his tendency to have “too close relationships” with female students. It cites a a fall 2013 incident, in which Meza was seen with his arm around a seventh-grade girl. John Cunningham, the middle school’s principal, “counseled Meza that such conduct was inappropriate and (about) the need for boundaries and personal space with these students,” according to the lawsuit. A letter about the incident was placed in Meza’s personnel file.
If you have been subjected to student/teacher or student/coach sexual assault and have questions, would like to talk or desire a free case evaluation, please contact us today.