COLORADO
The Denver Post
By Jordan Steffen
The Denver Post
POSTED: 07/05/2014
Investigators would have found numerous inappropriate photos of a 13-year-old girl posted on the walls of her math teacher’s office, but administrators at her Douglas County school never called them.
At least two students and their parents warned school officials about an inappropriate relationship between the teacher and his student. But instead of calling law enforcement or child welfare services — as required under a state law to help prevent child abuse — two former administrators at Rocky Heights Middle School punished children who reported the abuse, and failed to trigger an investigation that could have stopped the 30-year-old from preying on the girl for months before he raped her for the first time, according to a lawsuit filed by the girl’s parents.
Mandatory reporters, like the school’s then-principal, Patricia Dierberger, and assistant principal, James McMurphy, are required by law to report suspected child abuse. Failing to do so can result in criminal charges and up to six months in jail. But Dierberger and McMurphy will likely never face that charge or punishment for their alleged inaction.
In fact, few mandatory reporters — such as teachers, nurses, coaches and clergy members — ever face punishment for failing to report suspected child abuse, a Denver Post review has found. And the punishment for failing to report can be as little as $50.
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