Federal Trial Continues Against Hilldale Schools

The ex-Hilldale band director convicted of sexually molesting two of his former students speaks publicly for the first time.  Brian Giacomo testified in a civil trial against him and his old school district.  The News On 6's Ashli Sims covered the trial in Muskogee and reports not only did Brian Giacomo take the stand, but his teenage victim followed him in the witness box.  

The young rape victim told the jury what her life is like now.

It's been five months since Hilldale's ex-band director pleaded guilty to raping and sexually molesting two of his former students.

Brian Giacomo sat in a Muskogee County Jail cell until Thursday, when he testified in a civil trial against him and Hilldale Schools.

A federal jury will decide if the district should be held responsible for the girls' abuse.

Giacomo testified that his sexual relationships with his victims were pretty obvious.  He admitted that he would pull his then-15-year-old victim out of class to molest her on school property.  The girl's attorney told the jury the Hilldale school was aware of allegations against Giacomo because a student got in trouble for calling the band director a pedophile.        

That student testified he told school officials he saw the victim alone in a hotel room with Giacomo during an out of town band trip.

The plaintiff's attorney says this conversation occurred in May of 2006, six months before Giacomo was suspended from school and later arrested.  And, Giacomo admitted that if the school had taken action that May, he would not have continued to rape and molest his victims.

Hilldale's attorney counters that the alarm wasn't sounded because the student who called Giacomo a pedophile wasn't credible.  In fact, the student had a history of discipline issues.

The defense attorney tried to make the case that when the school had credible evidence, messages on Giacomo's MySpace page, they suspended him.

The defense also pointed out Giacomo went to great lengths to hide his affairs with students.  And, that he'd had a clean record for eight years, so school officials had no reason to suspect him.

Giacomo's victim is now 16.  She attends another school district and says she plans to join the Marine Corps, because she wants to empower herself.  She's been on medication and under psychiatric care since the abuse came to light.

The plaintiffs rested on Thursday after two full days of testimony.

The defense says they haven't proven anything and they want the judge to rule in their favor.  A ruling from the judge on the matter is expected as early as Friday morning.

Related Story:

03/03/2008  Former Band Director Admits Molestation