Alabama student victim of alleged sexual abuse case told she can’t play softball, records state

Alabama student victim of alleged sexual abuse case told she can’t play softball, records state

The father of a Faith Academy student who is the alleged victim in a sexual abuse case has filed a restraining order against the school, claiming she was prevented from playing on the school softball team.

A complaint was filed Monday in Mobile County Circuit Court against the school, arguing that she be reinstated.

Former Faith Academy coach and science teacher Jonathan Sauers was arrested last month after a 16-year-old girl told police and her parents about a sexual relationship, which she said was consensual.

According to court documents, Sauers agreed to be interrogated without a lawyer present and confessed to having sexual intercourse and sexual contact with the student. He was arrested and released after posting $40,000 bond.

According to the suit, the parents of a student member of the school softball team, who was a victim of Sauers, were told she could not play unless they signed a “hold harmless agreement” related to the sexual abuse case, which would not hold the school legally responsible.

According to the suit, the school student handbook does not require such agreements in situations of sexual abuse by faculty involving students.

“No other member of the girls’ softball team is being asked to sign such a document,” the complaint states.

The student would be harmed by this agreement, the suit argues, as she has the chance to play in college.