On January 26, 2022, attorney Gregory A. Stapp of Stapp Law, LLC provided notice to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro of his intent to pursue civil action against the parties who failed to report and properly handle an incident of criminal sexual assault occurring in 2018. Gregory Stapp is filing a claim on behalf of an unnamed client who was assaulted, harassed, and intimidated during a Williamsport Area High School baseball trip in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
The perpetrator of the assault was found guilty of criminal behavior by South Carolina authorities, but the agencies responsible for reporting the incident, even mandated reporters under the Child Protective Services Law, failed to fulfill their obligations. Gregory Stapp served a letter of notice on behalf of his client to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the City of Williamsport, and the Lycoming County Commissioners. Various employees and agents of these government agencies, including the Williamsport Area School District (WASD) and the Williamsport City Police, are named as defendants for their involvement in the cover-up.
In the spring of 2018, the Williamsport Area High School (WAHS) principal, five baseball coaches, and the school’s athletic director accompanied the baseball team on a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC to compete in a tournament. During the course of the trip, a member of the baseball team, a high school student who was a minor, was sexually assaulted in a hotel room by other members of the baseball team. The assault occurred while the victim was sleeping and was recorded on video.
The WAHS principal, athletic director, and all five coaches were mandated reporters of suspected child abuse under the terms of the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law. Despite this fact, none of these adults reported the assault in either Myrtle Beach or Williamsport as they were required by law to do.
Gregory Stapp is currently advocating for the rights of his client who was not only the victim of assault, intimidation, and harassment, but who has since suffered numerous damages stemming from a series of mismanagement, underreporting, and efforts to cover up an incident of juvenile sexual assault.
