Another lawsuit alleging sexual harassment has been filed in federal court, this time against Camden Military Academy. According to allegations laid out in the lawsuit, the “school’s dean of students engaged in sexually inappropriate conversations, innuendos and conduct with a minor child identified only as A.M. at the school.”
Another lawsuit alleging sexual harassment has been filed in federal court, this time against Camden Military Academy. According to allegations laid out in the lawsuit, the “school’s dean of students engaged in sexually inappropriate conversations, innuendos and conduct with a minor child identified only as A.M. at the school.”
The lawsuit itself was filed by the Anderson-based Allen & Allen law firm, and alleges the dean, “John Heflin, communicated via text message with A.M. hundreds of times at all hours of the day and night to carry on an inappropriate relationship.” A.M. joined the academy back in October 2014, and in April 2016, shortly after the death of his grandfather, “Heflin began an attempt to develop an inappropriate, personal relationship … including providing gifts,” according to the lawsuit. The gifts were only the beginning, though, and were quickly followed by “inappropriate conversations, conduct, and text messages, as well as warnings to keep their relationship secret.”
As a result, the lawsuit claims A.M. “continues to suffer severe and permanent psychological injury from the relationship” and is “no longer a student at Camden Military Academy.”
So how has the academy responded to the allegations? Well, so far it and Heflin have denied the allegations, and in a recent email an attorney for Camden Military Academy, Curtis Dowling, said the “school only learned of the student’s allegations and concerns shortly before the lawsuit was filed earlier this year.” He added, “we are not aware of any information or documentation to support the allegations against Camden Military Academy or John Heflin and the allegations are denied.”
In a separate statement Dowling said:
“Camden Military Academy stands by its mission statement to educate and inspire our students so they have an opportunity to achieve their maximum potential and gain the educational foundation to succeed in college and life as productive, contributing citizens.”
At the moment A.M.’s case is expected to go to trial sometime early 2019, with Judge Cameron McGowan Currie presiding, according to court records.
This isn’t the first time the military academy has been under fire or faced legal problems, though. Back in 2013, the school and it’s top leaders were involved in a case revolving around the “alleged rape of a cadet and a reputed culture of violence.” However, after a “four-week trial a federal jury acquitted Camden Military Academy and its top leaders.”
So what is Camden Military Academy? How does it differ from other schools? Well, for those who don’t know, the military academy is a “private, all-male military school, run by a nonprofit corporation, has grades seven through 12 and is recognized in the S.C. Legislative Manual as the ‘State Military Academy.’”
Sources:
Camden Military Academy dean sexually harassed student, lawsuit says
Civil suit alleges brutal beatings, rape at Camden Military Academy
Join the conversation!