Former CPS student repeatedly subjected to sexual assault by security guard during school hours: lawsuit

CHICAGO – a lawsuit was filed against the company Chicago Board of Education and a former security guard at a local high school on charges multiple sexual assault and harassment the then 15-year-old student.

The complaint, filed by Lane Brown, LLC on behalf of a plaintiff identified as John Doe, alleges a sexual assault that occurred in 2021 during school hours.

John Doe, now 18, said that on his first day at Dunbar Vocational Career Academy, he was targeted by school security guard Tywain Carter because of his age, height and status as a new transfer student. Lawyers say the guard promised to protect John Doe from school bullies and gained the family’s trust by meeting with his mother.

The complaint detailed how Carter’s grooming tactics included daily encounters with the student, including almost daily taking John Doe from classes to secluded locations, such as a faculty-only computer lab, to commit sexual assaults.

The lawsuit accuses Carter, who pleaded guilty in 2023 to sexual assault and sexual harassment against John Doe and another Dunbar student, for repeated acts of sexual assault and harassment. The documents show that six high school employees allegedly witnessed Carter’s behavior and failed to report it to the appropriate authorities, as required by Chicago Board of Education policy and her training.

The lawsuit alleged that Carter used physical force against John Doe, such as pushing him against a wall, choking him and sexually abusing him.

The abuse came to light when John Doe informed his mother about the events, which led to reports being filed with the Chicago police and school, the security guard’s arrest and his guilty plea.

“How many unauthorized removals does it take before employees begin to question a security guard’s behavior? “The school failed me,” John Doe said in a statement.

John Doe’s attorneys are seeking at least $50,000 for each of the six counts in the complaint.

“(John Doe} should, under our law, receive compensation for the enormous harm he has suffered,” said John Doe’s lawyer, Nick Kamenjarin. “He would certainly like an apology and acknowledgment of what happened to him from CPS, which failed to deal with reach him at all to see how he is doing or to apologize to him.”

In response, CPS released the following statement:

“The safety and well-being of our staff and students are our top priorities and foundational requirements for school communities. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) actively works to prevent sexual abuse and responds thoroughly to all reports of abuse. District leaders and staff understand the traumatic impact of sexual abuse, and we continually strive to educate leaders, faculty and students about this issue and the reporting process. The District does not comment on pending litigation.”