CHICAGO – A lawsuit has been filed against the Chicago Board of Education and a former security guard at a local high school, over accusations of repeated sexual assault and abuse of a student who was 15 years old at the time.

The complaint, which was filed by Lane Brown, LLC on behalf of the plaintiff, identified as John Doe, recounts sexual assaults that took place in 2021 during school hours.

John Doe, now 18, said he was attacked by a school security guard, Tywain Carter, on his first day at Dunbar Vocational Career Academy because of his age, size and status as a new transfer student. The guard promised to protect John Doe from school bullies and gained his family’s trust by meeting his mother, attorneys said.

The complaint details how Carter’s harassment tactics involved daily encounters with the student, including taking John Doe out of class almost daily to secluded areas such as a faculty-only computer lab to sexually assault him.

The lawsuit accused Carter, who pleaded guilty in 2023 to sexual assault and abuse of John Doe and another student at Dunbar, of repeated acts of sexual assault and abuse. According to the documents, six high school staff members allegedly witnessed Carter’s behavior and failed to report it to appropriate authorities, as required by Chicago Board of Education policies and training.

The lawsuit alleges that Carter used physical force against John Doe, such as pushing him against a wall, choking him, and sexually abusing him.

The abuse came to light when John Doe informed his mother of the incidents, leading to reports filed with Chicago police and the school, the security guard’s subsequent arrest, and his guilty plea.

“How many unauthorized class removals does it take before staff start questioning the security guard’s behavior? The school let me down,” John Doe said in a statement.

John Doe’s attorneys are seeking a sum of at least $50,000 for each of the six counts filed in the complaint.

“(John Doe) should be compensated under our laws for the immense harm he has suffered,” said John Doe’s attorney, Nick Kamenjarin. “He would certainly like an apology and acknowledgment of what happened to him from CPS, which they haven’t reached. “Don’t talk to him to check on him or to apologize.”

CPS issued the following statement in response:

“The safety and well-being of our staff and students are top priorities and critical conditions for our school communities. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) actively works to prevent sexual abuse and thoroughly addresses all reports of abuse. Leaders and “District staff understand the traumatic impact of sexual abuse and we continually strive to educate leaders, teachers and students about the issue and the reporting process. The District does not comment on ongoing litigation.”