Sexual Assault Alleged At CO School For Deaf, Blind

[Miss-Delectable]

Sexual Assault Alleged At School For Deaf, Blind - News Story - KRDO Colorado Springs

A local mother is unhappy with the handling of what she described as a sexual assault on her 9-year-old son by a fellow student at the Colorado School For The Deaf And The Blind in Colorado Springs.

Katrina Stewart said the assault happened in February 2010 while her son, who's now 10, was using a bathroom at the school. She said both boys are legally blind but the accused boy has better vision.

"My son wanted to know his name, and the boy didn't reply," said Stewart. "He was always told that if he yelled in the bathroom, he would get in trouble. So my son didn't yell out for help. (He) was outraged. He was so upset. He was mad that some boy had actually done this to him. I don't think he was hurt. He was just mad."

Stewart said she confronted school officials the next day. "They were unaware of it but they said since my son is unable to identify the child, there was nothing they could do. They couldn't interrogate every child in the school. I didn't think the police could do anything, either," she said.

Stewart said the school notified her on May 8 that the accused boy confessed to some aspects of the alleged assault, and that the school filed a report with the Department of Human Services, who then filed a report with Colorado Springs police.

Police Sgt. Darrin Abbink said the department officially began investigating the case on Wednesday. Part of the probe, he said, will include an interview of Stewart's son, and determining whether the school violated state law by failing to report the accusation to authorities immediately.

"The detectives will look at the case," said Abbink. "We want our specialists and everyone involved in the investigation to interview the (victim) together, so that he only has to do it once. It'll take a couple of days to get organized. The fact that the alleged assault happened more than a year ago, and that school is out for the summer, will make the investigation more challenging."

The school did not comment on the matter Thursday. Spokeswoman Diane Covington said the school was busy Thursday with graduation ceremonies and the last day of class.

Rick Banks of the DHS said the agency does not discuss open cases, especially those involving juveniles. However, he said the DHS will assess the case, assign it to a caseworker and work with police. Banks also said the agency will ask whether the school has adequate supervision and safety for students.

Stewart said the school has changed its procedures to have staff monitor bathrooms while students are using them. The name of the student has not been released because he is a juvenile.

Stewart also said she is frustrated that the accused student has remained in school, apparently with no action taken against him. She said she learned the student's name shortly after he appeared with her son in a school play Wednesday.

"We haven't told (her son) who it is," said Stewart. "We don't know if that's appropriate right now. But we should have been told. We had a right to know. We just want (the accused student) to get help.

Finally, Stewart said she's concerned that there may be other victims.

"Two instances that I know of, occurred in the dorm," she said. "He sneaked into the rooms at night."

KRDO Newschannel 13 will continue to track the investigation.

 

[deafdyke]

Holy cow!!!!!! The perp sounds very mentally ill. Especially with this.

We just want (the accused student) to get help.

Finally, Stewart said she's concerned that there may be other victims.

"Two instances that I know of, occurred in the dorm," she said. "He sneaked into the rooms at night."

I wonder if the other student may have been sexually abused as well, or may have a developmental issue that inhibits him not knowing that touching someone is wrong. Some mentally handicapped kids (and there are a lot of blind plus kids) may not know touching someone sexually is wrong.