A newly filed lawsuit accuses Bishop Luers High School officials and the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese of negligence in handling “widespread instances” of child exploitation and pornography falsely portraying female students.
As reported by 21ALIVE television in Fort Wayne, the lawsuit claims names of more than 30 female students were edited onto pornographic images, and videos.
The lawsuit alleges boys attending the Catholic high school created and sold video montages and digital folders with the names of female Bishop Luers students displayed over “explicit pornographic” videos and photos from websites.
Attorneys say the boys used images of people “whose general appearance, including hair color and length, body type, skin tone and other features resembled” minor female students at Bishop Luers.
The lawsuit claims multiple officials with the school and church were aware of videos and photos being shared amongst students at multiple Fort Wayne schools Feb. 2023 but did not notify the authorities or the victims’ parents, including:
James Huth, Former Bishop Luers High School Principal and current Director of Development;
Principal Scott Kreiger; David Maugel, Superintendent of Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocesan Schools; and
Kevin Mann, Bishop Luers Athletic Director.
The lawsuit also names the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis as a defendant and Bishop Luers High School.
“This case demonstrates what happens when those entrusted with our children’s care don’t uphold their legal and moral responsibility to protect them,” said attorney Greg Laker. “Instead, Bishop Luers High School, the Diocese, and Archdiocese prioritized their own public image and reputation, utterly failing the student-victims.”
Attorneys say the defendants “failed to act with reasonable care to protect” four unnamed female students and dozens of other students.
“The sexual exploitation these minors have suffered is profoundly dehumanizing,” said attorney Andrea Simmons. “To have victims further harmed by leadership’s deliberate concealment of the crimes reflects a shocking indifference for the dignity and well-being of students.”
3 comments
Hello, I am a student from another high school in Fort Wayne, and hearing about this is just awful. These boys who are responsible for this deserve to have their lives ruined for what they have don, no question about it. They are old enough to know that is unforgivable and disgusting. They are LUCKY that their names haven’t been revealed, but if or when they do, they deserve to be locked up for a long time. I don’t endorse violence or street justice, but I can’t say the same for the fathers or older brothers of the victims, and if they try to do anything to the pathetic young men responsible for this, I won’t get in their way.
Welcome to organized religion. Just ask for forgiveness; forgive me father I have sinned. Up to date on the tithe? Good to go.
The school officials/administration who failed as their duty as mandated reporters deserve to rot in jail.