VERSAILLES, Ky. (LEX 18) — Details are emerging in the case of a Woodford County High School teacher who resigned after allegations of inappropriate behavior, after the parents of two young sisters filed a civil lawsuit.
The lawsuit, filed against the Woodford Board of Education and the teacher, identified as “J.C.S.,” details alleged contact between the teacher and two young females.
Last month, LEX 18 reported that choir teacher Cooper Schrimsher resigned after being placed on administrative leave.
The lawsuit also identifies the alleged victims by initials. (LEX 18 is declining to use the names or initials of the alleged victims.)
Transcripts of recorded conversations between “J.C.S.” and the young female detail sexually explicit conversations, according to the suit. It also alleges inappropriate and sexual touching took place.
In the transcripts, the male indicates that he would like to see the young girl’s breasts. When the girl responds in disgust, the male is recorded saying: “It’s not gross. It’s just natural.”
The lawsuit says that the male teacher in question bribed the girl with Victoria’s Secret gift cards and leading roles in school plays for her silence.
The suit also alleges the school confiscated the girl’s phone upon learning of the recording and that she was not permitted to contact her parents until after she provided a written statement.
The documents also provide a timeline in which the girl’s sister also allegedly was victimized, including incidents in which J.C.S. is said to have touched the girl inappropriately to show her a breathing technique for singing.
The girls’ parents alleged the school did not react quickly enough upon learning of the allegations, noting the school learned of the incidents in 2017 and that the teacher did not resign until August 2018.
The suit alleges violations of the Title IX law, unreasonable search by school officials of the data stored on the cellphone, intentional infliction of emotional distress, civil battery and false imprisonment.
Cooper Schrimsher has not been charged with any criminal charges in this case. The Woodford County School Board had no comment.
