Mom Accuses MHMR Employee Of Wrongdoing With Her Daughter
A woman says her daughter – who has down syndrome – was sexually assaulted by a teacher who works at El Paso Mental Health and Retardation.
The investigation is over, but it appears to have raised as many questions as answers.
A state investigation of the allegations came back “unconfirmed.”
As a result, no record of the complaint will be placed on the teacher’s file.
Now, the mother of the accuser says she’s worried the same thing could happen to someone else.
“She started acting up about two, three months ago,” said the mom, who did not want to be identified.
The woman said her 45-year-old daughter with down syndrome had been attending independent living classes at MHMR for years, but recently something changed.
“Her attitude was different. She was quiet, she was depressed,” the mom said.
After some prodding, “Finally on the 5th of March, she broke down, and she told me that one of her teachers had been fondling her in the boys bathroom.”
Startling words for any parent.
“She got hysterical and I cried with her and I (asked) her: Did he touch you anywhere else?” the mom said.
The woman immediately reported the allegation to MHMR, which brought in a third party – Adult Protective Services – to investigate, which they did – without finding sufficient evidence to confirm a crime.
The allegation was listed as “unconfirmed” and the teacher was returned to the classroom with no record of the complaint being put in his personnel file.
According to the state’s retention policy, if the investigation results are unconfirmed, not even the complaint is recorded.
Leaving no public paper trail if the same thing has happened or happens again.
“My daughter’s traumatized. Even if its unconfirmed, something did happen. Something did happen,” the mom said.
But investigators simply weren’t sure of that.
The concerned mother said torn-up t-shirts are evidence of the anxiety her daughter’s been under.
“I want all the mothers to be aware,” she said. “I’m concerned for all the boys and the girls there.”
MHMR officials said the mother can appeal the investigation’s findings.
She has also filed a police report.
Officers are now investigating.
