Sex abuse victims outraged

Women assaulted as 3rd-graders in 2005; ‘We’re not to blame’

They endured four months of sexual abuse from their third-grade teacher and 12 years of legal battles with a school district that claimed they were partly to blame.

Two women molested by teacher Blake Sinrod in 2005, when they were 9, spoke out for the first time Thursday. The women, now 22, expressed outrage that the district argued in court files that they were “careless and negligent” and “old enough to appreciate the consequences of their actions.”

“We are not to blame,” said one of the women, who

asked to be identified by her lawsuit pseudonym Janie Doe A. “This type of defense makes victims feel ashamed and embarrassed and afraid to come forward.”

The second student, who asked to be identified as Janie Doe B, said she was “baffled and angry” by the district’s defense.

“It doesn’t matter if someone is 9 or 20 or 30, it shouldn’t be used,” she said. “It makes victims feel like it’s their fault, and no one should feel like that.”

Sinrod pleaded guilty in 2006 to abusing the two girls at Coral Sunset Elmentary west of Boca Raton.

The women gave interviews by telephone Thursday night alongside their lawyer, Marc Wites, a day after the School Board approved a $3.58 million settlement.

School Board members said at Wednesday night’s meeting that they were shocked to learn from reports in the Sun Sentinel that an outside law firm argued the victims were partly at fault. Board members pledged never to do that again

Janie Doe B was encouraged that “they realize how awful it was” to use the defense. Janie Doe A was more skeptical, saying she wasn’t sure if the School Board’s reaction was genuine or public relations.

“I don’t know which reason they’re doing it, but if they’re going to make changes, good for them for realizing this after 12 years,” she said.

Dale Friedman, a lawyer who represented the district in this case, said the purpose of the defense was not to claim the girls were responsible, but to bring up factors that could reduce the amount of damages the district might have to pay. For example, she said at least some of the former students chose not to get psychological treatment.

“We have never blamed these girls or given the appearance of holding the girls responsible for what their teacher did,’ she said.

The women interviewed said the school district never provided them counseling. One said she did seek counseling on her own, while another said she did not seek psychological help.

They said the school district had failed to take responsibility to protect them and other students from Sinrod. Testimony showed that parents of a second-grade girl had reported similar allegations of improper conduct by Sinrod to a Coral Sunset assistant principal two years before, but it was never investigated.

Sinrod had molested the girls since at least January 2005 when Janie A told her mom in early May of that year, according to a police report. The child told police that Sinrod fondled her during a reading group, touching her under her clothing and instructing her to touch his private area over his clothing. The three other girls gave similar accounts to police.

“I felt like I knew what he was doing was wrong, but it felt weird. He was in power,” Janie B said. “I felt if I told someone I would get in trouble, that it would somehow be my fault.”

Sinrod could not be reached for comment by phone.

The women said they felt Sinrod took advantage of them and the other two victims because they were all recent South American immigrants.

“I think he knew our parents

didn’t know the culture and didn’t speak English well and thought they would feel scared to tell someone,” Janie B said.

One of the students said she stayed at Coral Sunset after the abuse, despite often feeling uncomfortable because of the bad memories. The other transferred to another school. Both went on to college, with one graduating already and the other finishing her senior year.

They’ve had to relive the abuse several times as the court case dragged on for more than a decade, although they said they never talked about the abuse with classmates or friends.

Today, they said they are strong supporters of the #metoo movement on social media where people use the hashtag to show how prevalent it is to be a victim of sexual misconduct. The movement started in the wake of the sexual assault and harassment allegations involving Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

“Many victims remain silent afraid to speak,” Janie Doe A said. “I’m here to tell you it’s more than OK to speak up, to tell and to get help.”

“It doesn’t matter if someone is 9 or 20 or 30, it [the school district’s defense] shouldn’t be used.” Janie Doe B., 2005 abuse victim