Lawsuit accuses Connecticut charter school teacher of sexual abuse

Tremont Sheldon P.C. filed a lawsuit in New Haven Superior Court against Booker T. Washington Academy and a former teacher, alleging years of sexual abuse of a seventh-grade student in Hamden. The complaint says the school knew of warning signs and failed to protect the student, while the former teacher later pleaded guilty in a criminal case.

Why it matters: - The lawsuit accuses a Connecticut charter school and a former teacher of failing to stop alleged sexual abuse of a minor on campus. - The case could add to scrutiny of how schools respond when staff conduct raises child-safety concerns. - The plaintiff alleges physical injuries, emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder and damage to relationships.

What happened: - Tremont Sheldon P.C. filed Case No. NNH-CV26-5067783-S, Doe, John v. Booker T. Washington Academy, Inc. et al, in Connecticut Superior Court, Judicial District of New Haven. - The suit was filed on behalf of a man who says he was sexually abused, assaulted and exploited by his teacher while he was a seventh-grade student at Booker T. Washington Academy in Hamden. - The lawsuit names Booker T. Washington Academy and Dominique Maynard, who worked at the school and taught the plaintiff. - The complaint says the alleged abuse happened during the 2021-2022 school year, when the plaintiff was 13. - Court records show the Hamden Police Department charged Dominique Maynard in 2022 with risk of injury to a minor. - Court records also show Dominique Maynard pleaded guilty and received a 10-year sentence, suspended after nine months, with five years of probation.

The details: - The complaint says Dominique Maynard began sending sexually explicit text messages to the plaintiff and other students in a group chat. - The lawsuit alleges Dominique Maynard later sexually abused the plaintiff on multiple occasions at different locations inside the school, including in her classroom. - The alleged abuse included fondling, kissing, oral sex and sexual intercourse. - The complaint says Dominique Maynard showed the plaintiff pornography on school premises and gave him money. - The lawsuit alleges school staff knew Dominique Maynard was frequently pulling the plaintiff out of another teacher’s class and taking him to her classroom. - The complaint says a teacher on several occasions tried to enter Dominique Maynard’s classroom, found the door locked and reported it to the school. - The lawsuit alleges the school failed to take meaningful action and the abuse continued. - The civil case remains pending in Connecticut Superior Court in New Haven.

Between the lines: - The complaint frames the case as both an abuse claim and a failure-to-protect claim. - The allegations suggest the school may face questions about whether warning signs on campus were escalated fast enough. - Plaintiff attorney Timothy M. Ramsey said, “No child should ever have to endure sexual abuse, least of all in a place where parents expect their child to be protected. Our client has shown tremendous courage in coming forward.” - Jason E. Tremont said, “We believe that the evidence presented in this case will demonstrate that the defendant knew or should have known about the abuse and did not take the steps necessary to protect him.”

What's next: - The civil case will move forward in Connecticut Superior Court under Case No. NNH-CV26-5067783-S. - Tremont Sheldon P.C. says it represents childhood sexual abuse survivors across Connecticut and has handled more than 200 such cases. - The firm’s more information is available online. - The firm also maintains social media pages on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

The bottom line: - The lawsuit alleges a school environment where repeated warning signs were ignored while a teacher abused a student over time.