Concerns Rise in Florence County Over Allegations of Sexual Assault at West Florence High School

Concerns Raised in Florence County Following Allegations of Sexual Assault at West Florence High School

Florence County, S.C. has recently become the center of a troubling story that has put the local school district under the microscope. A mother claims that her daughter, a student at West Florence High School, was the victim of a serious crime — and that the school’s administration didn’t take the situation seriously enough.

The Allegations

According to court documents, the incident occurred on November 8, 2023, when Jackson Stafford, a fellow student, allegedly pulled the plaintiff’s daughter into a bathroom and assaulted her. Stafford has since been arrested and is facing charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Notably, both the alleged victim and Stafford were students with special needs at West Florence High School at that time.

After the incident, the victim reported the assault to the assistant principal. However, what comes next is raising serious concerns. The mother claims that her daughter was interviewed by staff without any parental presence. This led to her feelings that the district might not have handled the situation in the best way possible.

A Lack of Communication

In her lawsuit, the victim’s mother points out a glaring issue — the school district reportedly made no official announcements to the students, parents, or the media regarding the sexual assault. Almost two weeks after the alleged incident, the mother stated that Principal Matthew Dowdell informed her a reporter had reached out for a statement regarding the assault. In what she calls an odd request, the principal allegedly asked her to ask the reporter not to run the story. The mother chose not to intervene, and the story was published on November 20, 2023.

This timeline indicates that it took an external news report for the district to acknowledge the situation publicly. The lawsuit claims that Florence School District 1 (FSD1) failed to report the suspected sexual assault to the South Carolina Department of Education, and shockingly, they reported zero forced sex offenses for the entire 2023 school year. This lack of reporting raises even more eyebrows about the district’s commitment to student safety.

Concerns About Handling of the Case

Additionally, the school district’s superintendent, Richard O’Malley, reportedly questioned the definition of the incident in an internal email, asking, “When did this become rape? Is there new information?” This email has been highlighted in the lawsuit as further proof that the allegations were not taken seriously.

Furthermore, the mother contends that the district did not adequately investigate Stafford. He had only recently transferred to West Florence High School and reportedly had a history of behavioral problems. The mother believes this information should have been known or considered by the district officials.

Seeking Justice

In her legal filing, the mother argues that the district’s inaction has had devastating effects on her daughter, claiming violations of her rights under IDEA, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and Title IX. It’s clear that she holds the school district responsible for failing to keep her daughter safe.

Since the incident and subsequent events, the district did open a formal Title IX investigation. However, it’s important to point out that after eight months of investigation, the mother claims that there has been no conclusion or updates. This adds frustration to an already painful situation.

The victim’s mother is now seeking both actual and punitive damages, stating that the lack of action by the school district has severely affected her daughter’s life.

Awaiting Responses

As this situation evolves, WMBF News has attempted to reach out for comments from FSD1 and Superintendent O’Malley, but there has been no response reported as of Tuesday afternoon. This lack of communication only adds to the feeling of unease surrounding the handling of this sensitive issue.

In the days and weeks to come, the community of Florence County will likely be watching closely to see how this situation unfolds and what measures, if any, will be taken to ensure the safety and well-being of students moving forward. Stay tuned for further updates as details emerge.