Suit Filed Against Norman Schools After Aid Arrested For Molestation

Parents file a new lawsuit against Norman Public Schools after a former special education aid is arrested on charges of child molestation.

Even though the suspected abuse didn't happen at school, the new suit alleges district administrators knew the man was dangerous.

Since this came to light, the school district has maintained that although some parents complained of physical abuse, there was never any evidence of sexual misconduct. But this newest lawsuit suggests the school investigated the aid during his first year at the school after he invited a 7-year-old student to spend the night at his house.

2/19/2013 Related Story: Norman Parents Say Claims Of Child Abuse Went Uninvestigated

As a special education teacher at Wilson Elementary in Norman, Christopher Flores rubbed a student's head into the floor so severe it caused a carpet burn, according to the newest lawsuit filed Tuesday afternoon.

But the allegations laid out in the suit go beyond physical abuse and point to sexual misconduct.

"Not only did he take this particular student home, but other students as well in the middle of the day," said Alex Bendar, who is representing that student in the suit filed late Tuesday.

Bendar also represented five other parents who sued the school back in 2007. That suit was settled, as was another one filed in 2011 by another family and another in 2012 by two former students.

All allege they told the school Flores was physically abusing kids, but he was kept on staff.  Flores was arrested last week for molesting a 9-year-old boy.

2/18/2013 Related Story: Norman Former Teacher's Aid Charged With Sexually Abusing Child

"Aside of the issues of sexual molestation that first came up , there were issues of physical and psychological abuse over the years that would have alerted Norman Public Schools to take him away from children," said Bendar.

The newest lawsuit also singles out superintendent Joseph Siano, accusing him and other administrators of moving Flores to another school in order to keep information about the abuse from other parents.

A spokesperson from the school district says they were not aware of this latest suit until we made them aware of it.  And for that reason they are unable to comment.