County school system named in teacher sex lawsuit - News - Tuscaloosa News - Tuscaloosa, AL

Normally I do not track civil cases, but this one has an interesting twist to it.  "The suit also claims the system violated the constitutional clause requiring separation between church and state by allowing the teacher to hold Bible study sessions and claims he used his religion to gain the student’s trust."

According to the suit, the student’s dance teachers notified Brookwood High administrators about their concerns about the relationship.

“In late 2013 and early 2014, Plaintiff often talked about her friend ‘Brad’ during dance class as though he was her boyfriend,” Malone wrote in the complaint.

The dance teachers notified Brookwood High’s principal and two vice-principals, the attorney said, when they learned “Brad” was a teacher and coach at the school.

“The administrators implied that they were very upset with the situation and would make sure that it did not continue,” Malone wrote, adding they were told the matter would be investigated by the school board.

The suit claims that the woman’s Title IX rights were violated, and the statutory rape and sexual harassment violated her right to an education. It also claims that the board violated the U.S. Constitution Establishment Clause that guarantees separation of church and state.
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“Petrey actually used God and Christianity to lure a student into a sexual relationship with him,” Malone wrote in the lawsuit. “His Christianity teachings, Bible study and school prayer life manipulated Plaintiff’s trust and faithfulness to him so that she would not betray him or prosecute him.”

“This is exactly the reason why religion and state school do not mix and have been separated by law,” she said. “Religion in the hands of a sexual predator who is allowed to teach impressionable children at school is dangerously detrimental and should not be allowed.”

County school system named in teacher sex lawsuit - News - Tuscaloosa News - Tuscaloosa, AL