NORMAN, Oklahoma -
Parents file a new
lawsuit against Norman Public Schools after a former special education aid is
arrested on charges of child molestation.
Even though the
suspected abuse didn't happen at school, the new suit alleges district
administrators knew the man was dangerous.
Since this came to
light, the school district has maintained that although some parents complained
of physical abuse, there was never any evidence of sexual misconduct. But
this newest lawsuit suggests the school investigated the aid during his first
year at the school after he invited a 7-year-old student to spend the night
at his house.
2/19/2013 Related Story: Norman Parents Say Claims Of Child Abuse Went Uninvestigated
As a special
education teacher at Wilson Elementary in Norman, Christopher Flores rubbed a
student's head into the floor so severe it caused a carpet burn, according to
the newest lawsuit filed Tuesday afternoon.
But the
allegations laid out in the suit go beyond physical abuse and point to sexual
misconduct.
"Not only did he
take this particular student home, but other students as well in the middle of
the day," said Alex Bendar, who is representing that student in the suit filed
late Tuesday.
Bendar also
represented five other parents who sued the school back in 2007. That
suit was settled, as was another one filed in 2011 by another
family and another in 2012 by two former students.
All allege they
told the school Flores was physically abusing kids, but he was kept on
staff. Flores was arrested last week for molesting a 9-year-old boy.
2/18/2013 Related Story: Norman Former Teacher's Aid Charged With Sexually Abusing Child
"Aside of the
issues of sexual molestation that first came up , there were issues of physical
and psychological abuse over the years that would have alerted Norman Public
Schools to take him away from children," said Bendar.
The newest lawsuit
also singles out superintendent Joseph Siano, accusing him and other
administrators of moving Flores to another school in order to keep information
about the abuse from other parents.
A spokesperson from the school district says they were not aware
of this latest suit until we made them aware of it. And for that reason
they are unable to comment.
Christopher Flores was arrested after court papers say he admitted to inappropriately touching a nine-year-old boy.
