Years after Michael D. Williams was convicted of several charges of sexual abuse and molestation, another victim is coming forward. Williams, 43, a music teacher, was working at Wentzville East Elementary School when the abuse claims were first brought against him. In a civil case filed Thursday in U.S. District Court, the victim identified only as "Mary Doe Nine," 28, claims she was one of William's victims. Doe is seeking a trial by jury. She is the ninth victim to come forward. Doe is seeking $1.5 million in actual and compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages, as well as court costs. In the filing, the suit alleges seven count of misconduct. They are:
- A sexual hostile environment in violation of Title IX
- Violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983
- Negligence, Supervision of Plaintiff
- Negligence, Supervision of Defendant Michael D. Williams
- Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress
- Battery
- Statutory Childhood Sex Abuse, RSMo. 537.046
Named in Doe's filing are:
- Dr. Terry Adams, superintendent of the district;
- Williams;
- Richard Beauchamp, former principal of Wentzville East Elementary School;
- Mrs. Null, former teacher at Wentzville East.
"The alleged incident happened almost 20 years ago, and it predates our current Central Office administration," said Matt Deichmann, Director of Community Relations for the district. "We cannot comment on pending litigation or personnel issues. The District cooperated fully during the initial investigation, and we would of course do the same with any investigation that might be a part of this litigation." The Case Against Williams Williams was charged in 2002 after eight victims, ranging in age from seven to 11, claimed molestation, sodomy and rape. He pled guilty to 18 counts of statutory sodomy and rape and is currently serving a 25-year sentence at the Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston, MO. According to the suit, Doe was 11 years old at the time of the abuse. "The Plaintiff is now twenty-eight (28) years old with severe psychiatric disorders as a result of her childhood trauma," the filing states. "It was not until December of 2009, that Plaintiff was even capable of discussing the events set forth herein with any family member, counselor or psychiatrist." She repressed the memories, according to the filing, and did not remember what happened until 2009. The suit says Williams began his employment at Wentzville East in 1990. It was in 1993 that Doe was a student in his music class. The suit claims during that school year, Williams committed multiple acts of molestation and rape against Doe in his music classroom during the lunch hour. Null, the suit accuses, walked into Williams's classroom during the first instance of molestation. Williams and the plaintiff were sitting at a piano. "No music was playing and there was not such thing as a lunchtime individual lesson plan for students at Wentzville East Elementary School," the suit reads. The filing goes on to claim that Null witnessed Williams with his hand down the pants of the victim. Beauchamp, the suit alleges, allowed Williams "unique access to students and ignored specific parental complaints during the years that would follow about sexually inappropriate conduct by Defendant Williams." Beauchamp is currently the principal at
Crossroads Elementary School. Williams worked at the school until 2001. The case alleges the school district should have known of the abuses of Williams and failed to supervise him properly. This is not the first lawsuit brought by Williams' victims. According to
STLtoday.com, in 2004, Williams was ordered to pay $1 million to two victims and his wife, Becky Williams, was ordered to pay $325,000. Eight students reached confidential settlements with the district. Becky Williams, who watched and participated in some of the abuse, cooperated with investigators against her husband, pleaded guilty to two counts each of statutory sodomy and statutory rape and was sentenced to five years' probation, according to the STLtoday.com story. Plaintiff Doe, according to the suit, began treatment for psychiatric disorders beginning when she was 17.
