LA GRANGE TEACHER AMONG THOSE NAMED IN LAWSUIT

  

A teacher/coach at La Grange Elementary School has been named in a lawsuit that has been filed against his former school.

ABC 7 News in Amarillo is reporting that a lawsuit has been filed against Perryton ISD, former Perryton High School basketball players, and a former Perryton High School football coach. 

According to the lawsuit, which has been filed in federal court, the victim’s mother accuses a player, Tad Pshigoda, of sexually assaulting her son three times in the school’s locker room on February 21, 2021.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified Pshigoda as the current Perryton High School basketball coach. The article has been updated.

While the assault was occurring two other players videotaped it, and later posted the video to social media. 

The lawsuit claims that Ragan Watson, who at the time was an assistant football coach at Perryton, was “present and able to stop the abuse, but did nothing.”

In the lawsuit, the victim is seeking $2 million in emotional distress, pain and suffering along with $1.8 million in liquidated damages for production and/or distribution of the videos, and punitive damages against Pshigoda to be determined at trial.

The report by ABC 7 News says that the victim punched a hole in a pinata made by the team moms.  The pinata was supposed to be left for the varsity since most of the team were seniors, and it was one of their last games.

The victim was convinced to come to the locker room. The other players formed a tunnel with Watson allegedly standing at the front and smirking.  Once inside the locker room, the victim claimed that he was pinned down, and while he was assaulted, the other players cheered, while Watson just stood there and watched.

Pshigoda later pled guilty to a Class A Misdemeanor charge of Assault With Bodily Harm, and given six months of probation.  The boys who filmed the incident and posted the video on social media were not charged.

The Perryton School District investigated and gave Pshigoda a 10-day in-school suspension.  The students were given a 5-day and a 3-day in-school suspension.

Watson was never investigated or disciplined.

Texas Education Agency Records show Watson is now working as a teacher/coach at LaGrange Elementary School. 

La Grange ISD posted on their Facebook page on Wednesday that a staff member had been placed on administrative leave after learning of an incident at their previous school district from two years ago.

State and federal law prohibit the school district from identifying whether or not Watson is the staff member in question.

La Grange ISD said that they are investigating the matter to determine what disciplinary action, if any, needs to be taken.

La Grange ISD added that the safety and security of their students is their highest priority.