YAKIMA, Wash. — The family of a former Franklin Middle School student is suing the Yakima School District, alleging officials failed to protect her from an employee who raped her when she was 12.
In the suit filed Monday in Yakima County Superior Court, the family says paraeducator Aristeo Garcia-Rubio was suspended for inappropriate contact with the girl, but was allowed to return to work, where he continued to sexually groom the girl before ultimately raping her at her home.
Yakima School District spokesperson Kirsten Fitterer said the district is aware of the case, but hadn’t been served with a copy of the suit by late Tuesday afternoon.
According to the lawsuit, the student’s mother told school officials she was concerned that Garcia-Rubio was seen walking her daughter home in December 2014. In an investigation conducted by the school, Garcia-Rubio admitted to walking the girl home and holding inappropriate conversations with her, while other girls said he behaved inappropriately with them as well, according to a release from the family’s attorney Bryan G. Smith.
To read the full article in the Yakima Herald Republic, click here.