BishopAccountability.org
	Former Logan-Rogersville Student Speaks out about Alleged Abuse at the Hands of Choir Director By Dirk VanderHart News-Leader April 20, 2009 http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090420/BLOGS12/90420035 A Springfield man who has sued the Logan-Rogersville School District, his former music teacher, and the former principal of Logan-Rogersville High School over alleged sexual abuse spoke out about the case this morning. At a press conference outside the Springfield Police Department, 31-year-old Adam Walker said he's come forward to create awareness about child sexual abuse, and increase scrutiny on former Logan-Rogersville music teacher Bradley T. Barrett. In a federal lawsuit filed in November, Walker alleged Bartlett sexually abused him, beginning when he was 15 and continuing until Walker graduated. The suit also contends former Logan-Rogersville High School Principal John Hetherington and the school district knew, or should have known, about the abuse and failed to put a stop to it. The abuse, alleged to have taken place in several states and even overseas, was possible because Walker was "a talented vocalist as a student" who "Barrett took a special interest in..." the suit says. That meant Walker would often go on trips with Barrett to attend choral events. "(Sexual abuse) steals your life," a tearful Walker said at the news conference. "It propagates bad decisions. Sometimes you just feel stuck in neutral." He was accompanied by David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. Clohessy noted the Chicago-based organization does not work solely against abuse in churches, but in any institution where trusted adults have the opportunity to prey on children. Last week, Walker held a similar conference at the University of Northern Iowa, where Barrett works as an assistant music professor. The man's been placed on leave while the university investigates the allegations. Since speaking out about his alleged abuse, Walker said he's received an outpouring of support from the community, and that more alleged victims have stepped forward. "We're finding out it happened to others," he said. "I hope that they can find healing and peace." Walker declined to elaborate on other alleged victims. He said he decided to speak about his experiences publicly when he learned Barrett taught private voice lessons to high school students in Iowa. "For me the fact that the potential was there for him to still abuse children meant I had to step up," Walker said. Barrett left Logan-Rogersville High School in 1997. It's unclear whether he left on amiable terms with the school district. Superintendent Jeremy Tucker declined Monday to comment on why Barrett left the school, referring a reporter to the district's attorneys. Both the school district and Hetherington have asked to be dismissed from the lawsuit, claiming they had no knowledge of the alleged abuse and that too much time has passed to try the case.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.