AVON PARK, Fla. -- A parent has filed a lawsuit against the Highlands County School Board, claiming its members failed to prevent a teacher from having a sexual relationship with their 13-year-old girl.
The lawsuit stems from the arrest of Avon Park Middle School special education teacher Kevin Dewberry, who also worked as an athletic coach.
Dewberry is charged with four counts of sexual battery and 55 counts of possession of child porn.
The civil suit alleges the board failed to reasonably supervise the teacher and student.
The Highlands County Sheriff's Office previously said school administrators became aware of the situation after a school resource deputy was told that the girl had claimed to be in an ongoing sexual relationship with Dewberry.
Adam Kemp, the attorney representing the parent who is suing, said the school board left the girl vulnerable to sexual assault.
"She will be affected by this for the rest of her life," Kemp wrote in a statement. "The school district has had several other incidents of sexual misconduct by teachers in recent years and had good reason to know this was happening, yet, we allege they did nothing to prevent the traumatic abuse of students in their care."
Kemp said he intended to hold the school board accountable for "failure to protect its students.”
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