Student Sexually Abused by 2 Ocoee High Teachers Files Lawsuit Against District

A former Ocoee High student who was sexually abused by two teachers at the school when she was 17 years old filed a lawsuit last month accusing Orange County’s school district of negligence, court records show.

The young woman, identified in court records only by initials, filed the suit in Orange County circuit court April 11 and is seeking more than $15,000 in damages. Named as defendants are Orange County Public Schools and the Orange County School Board.

Lorena Arias, a spokeswoman for the school district, said OCPS does not comment on pending litigation.

The teachers, Chad Michael Coy, then 27; and Ryan Stewart Kirkpatrick, then 26; were arrested by Ocoee police in April 2017. Both have since been convicted of committing sex acts on a child.

The abuse occurred in September and October 2016. The victim told police the sex acts happened on school grounds while classes were in session. Coy was her second period teacher and coached her lacrosse team, while Kirkpatrick was her math teacher.

The girl described performing oral sex on the men in their classrooms, as well as kissing, molestation and sexting.

According to a police report, the girl said she would eat lunch in Kirkpatrick’s classroom and also went there during his planning period, which is when the abuse occurred. They would move to a long table against a wall so no one could see them, she said.

Coy, the report said, “told her he loved her and wished he could wake up to her.” He also called her “wifey” in emails, police said.

In the lawsuit, the victim’s attorneys accuse OCPS of breaching its duty to the victim by failing to supervise her during school hours, allowing her to be alone in classrooms with the two men and failing to enact procedures to prevent abuse, among other claims.

The victim is represented by the Orlando-based Overchuck Law Firm.

Coy, now 29, was sentenced to two years in prison and is scheduled to be released in October. Kirkpatrick, 28, was sentenced to 18 months. His release date is currently set for May 22, records show. The two men are not listed as defendants in the lawsuit.

Both are now sex offenders and face probation when released.

Source: www.orlandosentinel.com www.orlandosentinel.com

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