The Fruitland School District is facing a civil lawsuit alleging it failed to prevent or address the sexual abuse of a student by a former assistant track coach.
Kelly Rhinehart was indicted by a grand jury on five charges of rape and sexual battery of a minor in 2019, when he was an assistant track coach at Fruitland High School. Those charges were dismissed earlier this year. The case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning prosecutors could still refile charges.
The Idaho Statesman reports, a new complaint just filed in federal court alleges the Fruitland School District knew that Rhinehart had been accused of “inappropriate relationships” prior to his coaching at Fruitland, and that district staff failed to investigate his “obvious inappropriate conduct” toward a minor on the track team.
The lawsuit alleges the district did not properly train employees and coaches on how to identify and report predatory behavior, and as a result Rhinehart sexually abused the girl.
The Idaho Attorney General’s office, says the case against Rhinehart is still “pending.”
