CHARLESTON – Two students are suing the Mingo County Board of Education after they claim they were sexually abused by a teacher and athletic coach.
The West Virginia Board of Education and two unknown and unnamed employees of the board were also named as defendants in the suit.
M.H. and J.H., through their parents, M.R. Hatfield and T.L. Hatfield, filed the lawsuit in Kanawha Circuit Court.
The plaintiffs are students at Matewan PK-8 School and in August 2013, Jennifer Parsons, a teacher and athletic coach at the school, actively sought and encouraged M.H. to quit one athletic team and join her team and, as part of the inducement for M.H. and K.H. to join the team, she offered transportation for them to and from all team practices and sporting events, according to the suit.
The plaintiffs claim at Parsons' insistence, M.H. quit the team she was on and joined Parsons' team, along with K.H. and from August 2013 through December 2013, Parsons inappropriately touched, fondled, sexually harassed, sexually abused, molested and assaulted M.H. repeatedly while she was in her care, both at school, at practice, in her vehicle and at her home and other detours made to and from athletic events and practices.
Parsons provided alcohol, illegal drugs and prescription narcotics to M.H. to induce her to have sex with her and be more compliant with regard to the abuse being perpetrated upon her.
From August 2013 through December 2013, Parsons fostered and encouraged K.H. to have inappropriate physical contact of a sexual nature with her husband, John Parsons, and offered and provided alcohol, illegal drugs and prescription narcotics to K.H. in an attempt to make her more compliant with Jennifer Parsons' abusive scheme, according to the suit.
The unknown, unnamed board employees were informed of the inappropriate relationship between Jennifer Parsons and M.H. and K.H., but failed to take any action to protect the children from the teacher, according to the suit.
The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. They are being represented by Robert B. Warner, Lynnette Simon Marshall and Andrew D. Byrd of Warner Law Offices; and Stephen P. New of the Law Offices of Steven P. New.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Charles E. King.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 15-C-1608
