New allegations surface against former Akron Catholic schoolteacher Richard Rudman

By Phil Trexler
BeacJournal
September 19, 2014

http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/new-allegations-surface-against-former-akron-catholic-schoolteacher-richard-rudman-1.523508

New allegations have surfaced against a former Catholic elementary schoolteacher in Akron who quietly was sent to prison this year for sex offenses against a 12-year-old student.

The accusations are contained in a lawsuit filed Wednesday against the Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland, St. Mary’s School in Akron and former music teacher Richard Rudman.

The family of the 12-year-old girl contend in their lawsuit that school officials turned a blind eye to Rudman’s actions in the classroom, including his taking the student and others out of class under the guise of “helping him” with special projects.

The suit also contends that Rudman “groomed, sexually abused, violated, molested and manipulated” the girl at school and away from the classroom. It also alleges he gave other girls gifts and money during school hours and also encouraged the children to contact him on Facebook.

There have been no allegations that Rudman molested other children.

The lawsuit, filed in Summit County Common Pleas Court, seeks more than $50,000 in damages.

A spokesman for the diocese issued a prepared statement Wednesday afternoon.

“The sexual abuse of a minor is a horrific act that no child should have to endure. That is why, for the Diocese of Cleveland and St. Mary Parish, the safety and welfare of the children in their care is a priority of the highest importance.

“While the Diocese and St. Mary Parish cannot specifically comment on a pending lawsuit, the Diocese and St. Mary Parish adhere to the Diocesan Policy for the Safety of Children in Matters of Sexual Abuse. This policy has been in place for many years to help prevent the occurrence of abuse through training, employee and volunteer screening, and reporting of suspicion of abuse to civil authorities.

“Recognizing the pain experienced by victims of child abuse, the prayers of the Diocesan and St. Mary Parish communities continue to be offered for all victims of sexual abuse and, in a special way, for the victim of Mr. Rudman’s crimes.”

It was through Facebook that the 12-year-old’s family first learned of Rudman’s abuse of the girl, which went on for nearly a year beginning in August 2012.

The Rev. Daniel Reed, who oversees St. Mary’s School, said in an interview this year that, once he learned of the allegations, he alerted faculty and staff in an effort to determine if other students were victimized. The notification and search for other victims ended there, however.

Reed said parents never were notified formally of the incident involving Rudman.

Reed was unavailable for comment Wednesday.

A criminal investigation ensued when the girl’s adoptive mother learned in July 2013 about her child’s online relationship with Rudman, which included adult-themed conversations and his urging of the girl to send him nude photos of her chest and genitals.

After the allegations came to the attention of St. Mary’s, the lawsuit alleges that the school expelled the 12-year-old girl, then failed to adequately notify the parents of other students about Rudman’s behavior or the discovery on his computer of more than 700 images and videos, many of young girls dressed in Catholic school uniforms in a classroom setting.

Jill Flagg Lanzinger, the family’s attorney, said the lawsuit is about seeking justice and accountability for the girl and her family.

“Teachers and administrators need to speak up when other adults have inappropriate relationships with students, and there were certainly red flags here,” she said. “Mr. Rudman’s behavior, as well as the way the school treated [the girl], will affect her for the rest of her life.”

Neither Akron police nor Summit County prosecutors, which both routinely issue news releases on significant crimes, publicized Rudman’s indictment in 2013. Both offices have said that lack of publicity was unintentional.

The girl’s family contacted the Beacon Journal this year to complain about the perceived secrecy of Rudman’s actions and the March plea deal prosecutors arranged with Rudman’s attorney that gave the 42-year-old teacher an opportunity to seek his release from prison after serving six months of a four-year, 11-month sentence he received from Judge Lynne Callahan.

The family said they were never fully apprised of the plea deal before it was announced in court.

Rudman, who had taught the girl for two years, coerced her into sending him photos of her breasts during conversations on Facebook, police said. The teacher also sent a message urging the girl to use a sex toy on herself.

A search of Rudman’s home computer and a flash drive uncovered hundreds of photos and videos of children engaged in sex, police said.

Rudman was indicted on nine felony counts but was allowed to plead to only two counts.