LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - An Arkansas private school faces a lawsuit from the mother of a boy allegedly assaulted by a teacher's aide who is currently facing federal child pornography charges.
The mother filed suit Jan. 12 in Pulaski County Circuit Court against Miss Selma's Schools, as well as owner Robin Smith and vice principal Alana Reed. They are accused of negligently hiring, supervising and retaining Augustus Shenker.
Shenker worked at the school for four years until federal charges came down that included production of child pornography. He is accused of filming pornographic videos with two young girls with his phone.
The lawsuit is filed on behalf of a boy allegedly sexually assaulted in 2021 while in a pre-kindergarten class for 4-year-olds.
"(I)n addition to the sexual abuse, Defendant Shenker filmed the abuse and has distributed such images to third parties in violation of state and federal law," the suit says. "...Shenker's abuse of John Doe occurred during the working hours and was perpetrated against him, and other children, who were under the care, custody and control of Defendants..."
Shenker's criminal proceedings continue, with a proposed trial date of May 22 in federal court.
Denise Reid Hoggard of Rainwater, Holt & Sexton is representing the plaintiff.