LE MARS, Iowa (Iowa Media Wire) — The Hinton Community School District (CSD) and some school officials are facing a third lawsuit alleging abuse within the school’s wrestling program.

A student and their parents filed the lawsuit in Plymouth County Tuesday against the school district, former wrestling head coach Casey Crawford, wrestling assistant coach Bradley “Woody” Skuodas, Hinton superintendent Ken Slater, and former Hinton athletic director Brian DeJong. All four were employed by Hinton CSD at the time of the incidents detailed in the lawsuits.

This third lawsuit makes allegations similar to the other two lawsuits filed in early April, accusing Crawford, Skuodas and DeJong of “encouraging” bullying, hazing and violence by the students on the wrestling team. They also accuse the Hinton school district of being aware of it but failing to address it.

The lawsuits alleged incidents that occurred during two wrestling trips at the beginning of the year. In a Jan. 2024 varsity trip to Burke in Nebraska, some students went to a mall and bought “sex items” such as dildos. The students then used those dildos on other students, including the student in the newest lawsuit, and filmed the incident. The lawsuit also claims there was no supervision and that coaches were aware of the use of the sex items.

The lawyers for the defendants filed an answer to the first two lawsuits saying they admitted to learning that students “engaged in inappropriate behavior with the item.” While on the trip, Skuodas heard students talking about a potentially purchased dildo while riding in a van. The answer claims he checked student bags but didn’t find one, telling the students that if they did have one, he would call their parents.

They also denied there was “no supervision, no room checks, and no bag checks” on the trip. They also denied that the coaches were aware of the sex items and their use before an investigation started after a separate trip to Coralville.

The defendant’s answer also responded to the many other allegations in the first two lawsuits that are found in the newest lawsuit.

Like the first two lawsuits, this new one claims all defendants are responsible for negligence and a loss of consortium — or deprivation of benefits from a familial relationship — for each parent. The lawsuit also claims the school was negligent in training and supervision of of employees. The student and parents demand a trial by jury, asking for a judgement to be determined at trial.

After the lawsuits had been filed but before the filing of an answer, an attorney representing the defendants provided the below statement:

While the District intends to zealously defend against the claims in these suits, it is District policy to not comment on pending litigation, especially when such litigation involves minor students of the District. Of course, this puts the District and the Administration at a significant disadvantage in the Court of public opinion. Thus, we would simply remind your viewers that, at this point, these are nothing but allegations being made in a lawsuit filed for monetary recovery. Furthermore, while we acknowledge that these lawsuits have caused an unfortunate division in the Hinton School District Community, the Administration, Faculty and Staff of the District want to ensure the Community that they continue to work tirelessly towards improving all academic and extracurricular programs to provide a positive and safe learning environment for the benefit of all students.

ATTORNEY TIMOTHY A. CLAUSEN OF KLASS LAW FIRM LLC

On Feb. 14, 2024, Slater told Iowa Media Wire 9 that two wrestling coaches had been placed on paid administrative leave. One of them was still on leave, while the other had gone back to work. Two students were “reassigned” soon after.

Slater later told Iowa Media Wire 9 on Feb. 16 that the coach still on leave was Crawford. On March 18, Crawford formally resigned from his position as wrestling head coach, though he also said in his resignation letter that he hoped to continue teaching math at Hinton.

In early March, the Hinton school board accepted the resignations of 7th-12th grade principal Phil Goetstouwer and 4th-6th grade principal/athletic director Brian DeJong.

School board members have since discussed possible school trip policy changes, such as bag checks, printed itineraries, and contact information.

This is an ongoing story. For the latest developments in this case, click here.