Norman woman files civil lawsuit against former principal of Caddo Hills
A Nashville resident, the Caddo Hills School District and eleven other defendants have been named in a civil lawsuit filed by a 21-year-old female from Norman.
According to court records, the lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County on February 20th. The defendants include a former principal of the Caddo Hills High School, the Caddo Hills School District, the superintendent of the district, the current members of the Caddo Hills School Board, four individuals associated with the district and the Ouachita Regional Counseling and Mental Health Center.
The plaintiff has asked for a jury trial and is seeking punitive damages against each defendant and prayer for relief, which is a legal term for damages in an amount adequate to compensate the plaintiff for her injuries and damages sustained by each defendant’s wrongful conduct.
The plaintiff alleges she was sexually abused by James Todd Baxley who was the principal of the Caddo Hills High School in 2017. She alleges both mental and physical abuse occurred in his office.
The plaintiff alleges she told Rhonda Tannehill of the Ouachita Regional Counseling and Mental Health Center of the abuse. She also alleged informed the superintendent’s secretary, Linda Gaston, who told her quote, “maybe she took it the wrong way.” unquote.
The plaintiff alleges that the school resource officer, Stacy Watson, was outside the office door while the abuse was occurring.
Finally, the abuse was reported to a Tracy Rogers who reported the abuse to the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division and an investigation was opened.
During the first semester of the 2018-2019 school year, the plaintiff transferred to a different school district.
Following a search of the ARCourt website, no criminal charges have been filed against any of the listed defendants in this civil case.
