BOISE, Idaho — In early October, the Boise School District, Fairmont Junior High and Fairmont's former principal, Christopher Ryan, were hit with two more lawsuits.
The lawsuits state all three parties showed "deliberate indifference" to previous Fairmont social worker Scott Crandell's "ongoing pattern of grooming, boundary violations, and overtly predatory behavior" toward young female students in 2021 and 2022.
Boise Police started investigating Crandell. However, he died by suicide in December of last year before any charges were filed against him.
The parents who filed the lawsuits claim Crandell abused their children. The lawsuits state the parents, teachers, and staff members reported Crandell's inappropriate behavior to Ryan, but that Ryan did not report Crandell to the appropriate authorities.
The documents also state Ryan did not take steps to keep Crandell away from any of the students involved and did not remove him from the school.
The parents suing claim Ryan, the school and the district were "negligent." The documents claim the children were "exposed to a known, grave risk of harm and endured and suffered severe physical and emotional distress."
A previous lawsuit with similar allegations was filed over the summer.
In January, Ryan was charged with failing to report child abuse. In May, a misdemeanor charge of injury to a child was added. Both of those charges were later dismissed.
On Oct. 4, a new charge of felony injury to a child was filed against Ryan. The two lawsuits were filed two days later.
Specifics about the criminal charge are not available because the indictment is sealed. KTVB reached out to Ryan's attorney but did not hear back.
The Boise School District cannot comment on pending litigation. However, a spokesperson said the district takes all allegations seriously. The full statement reads in part:
"We have a thorough and comprehensive reporting procedure that we follow, and we encourage anyone who has experienced or witnessed inappropriate behavior to report it to our administration or to law enforcement immediately. Our district remains dedicated to upholding high standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability. By working together, we create a safe and supportive community for all students."
Ryan's arraignment is set for late October.
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