Student S*xual Assault: Kentwood Schools’ Failure Alleged In Lawsuit

by

KENNETHWOOD, MI – According to a lawsuit, a former East Kentwood High School student claims the school district did nothing to halt continuing s*xual attαcks by a janitor in 2019 and 2020.

On behalf of the former pupil, an action was brought before Kent County Circuit Court on Wednesday, June 28, according to attorney Jon Marko.

A copy of the lawsuit was sent to MLive by Marko.

By permitting the kid to be s*xually harassed, he claims Kentwood Public Schools violated the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.

Student Sexual Assault: Kentwood Schools' Failure Alleged In Lawsuit

Early in 2019, when she was 16 years old, East Kentwood High’s custodian and security guard John Matthew Hunt became friends and eventually started having s*x with her. The s*x occurred at the school and in other places, like hotels.

Hunt, 59, was ultimately detained and accused of third-degree criminal s*xual behaviour with a pupil in November 2020. He was found guilty and sentenced to 21 months to 15 years in jαil in July 2022.

Marko and the victim alleged in the complaint that school administrators were aware of Hunt’s s*xual assault of the teen but did nothing to stop it.

MLive shared a tweet about the same news on its official Twitter account:

In May 2019, according to Marko, the teen started seeing a counsellor connected to the district. He claimed that the teen had regularly disclosed his or her friendship with Hunt to the counsellor.

The counsellor mentioned the teen’s “unhealthy relationship” in the teen’s medical file in September 2019.

“After learning about Hunt’s behavior toward (the teen), the school failed to put in place preventative or appropriate measures to ensure that further incidents did not occur,” Within the case, Marko wrote.

Here you can also look up the other news articles on our website, read for more information provided by us:

The s*xual interactions allegedly lasted through July 24, 2020, according to Marko and the teen. When Hunt was let go by the district is unclear.

Administrators of Kentwood Public Schools could not be reached on Thursday, June 29.

Marko claims in the lawsuit that the adolescent has nightmares and insomnia due to Hunt’s assaults, suffers from anxiety and despair and drops out of college.

“(The victim) has been going to counseling and therapy trying to heal from the physical and emotional damage this sexual harassment had on her life,” Marko wrote.

Leave a comment