Suit targets school over child sex acts

MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) - Parents sue after boy was abused by other students

Updated: Tuesday, 02 Oct 2012, 6:55 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 02 Oct 2012, 6:06 PM EDT

Jay Hermacinski

MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) - Parents are suing a school run by Ball State University after they say their 8-year-old was involved in sexual acts with other children at school.

The lawsuit alleges the boy and other children were able to access pornography at Burris Laboratory School, and then the boy was forced by other children to act out scenes. The suit seeks a jury trial in the case.

Ball State University spokesman Tony Proudfoot said the university notified the Indiana Department of Child Services about reports of inappropriate behavior in December 2011. He said police and the university investigated and the complaint bears "no resemblance to the evidence or results of the investigations of the university or those of the agencies to which it was reported."

No adults were accused of being involved in the acts, though the lawsuit targets the school for lack of supervision.

"Despite warnings to the teacher and other efforts by the parents to find out what was going on, the school reassured everyone nothing was going on and nothing was wrong," said Mike McNally, an attorney representing the parents.

The lawsuit names Ball State, Burris Laboratory School, and the boy's second grade teacher as defendents.