Two more former Freeburg School District 70 students alleged in a federal lawsuit filed on Friday that Robin Hawkins, a former teacher, coach, counselor and superintendent who committed suicide two years ago, molested them.
In addition to the school district, the suits name former superintendents Lawrence Meggs and Clarence Haege as defendants alleging they "turned a blind eye" to Hawkins' alleged abuse. The victims are identified in the suit as "John Doe 2" and "John Doe 3."
Belleville attorney Mike Weilmuenster, who also represents another man who filed suit claiming that Hawkins blindfolded him, bound his wrists and molested him, filed the suits on behalf of the two men.
When contacted regarding the suits, Weilmuenster declined to comment, but did say that several individuals have come forward and testified under oath that they were sexually abused by Hawkins.
Mike Wagner, the lawyer who represents the district, had not received the complaint, but said he would "continue to defend the suits to the fullest extent."
The suits allege that Hawkins engaged in multiple instances of masturbation and oral sex in his office and the boy's locker room. It further alleges the abuse dated back as far as 1980.
According to the complaint, Meggs and Haege:
* Allowed Hawkins to have unsupervised access to various rooms and areas of the school, despite having knowledge through numerous independent sources that Hawkins used the premises to sexually abuse minor male students.
* Were deliberately indifferent to the safety, security and well-being of all the minor male students at Carl L. Barton Elementary School.
* Concealed Hawkins' sexual harassment, sexual grooming and sexual abuse of minor male students.
* Failed to report Hawkins' misconduct to law enforcement or the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, as required by law.
* Refused or failed to investigate reports of sexual misconduct against Hawkins.
* Prevented boys, including Doe, from getting an education free from sexual harassment, sexual grooming and abuse.
Hawkins committed suicide in 2009 by carbon monoxide asphyxiation, just weeks after Illinois State Police launched an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by Hawkins. His body was found sitting in a 1964 Mustang convertible in a barn at his rural Belleville home.
The News-Democrat obtained copies of the Illinois State Police investigative report under the Freedom of Information Act, including reports that showed at least five possible victims, including a minor boy who was interviewed by police a week after Hawkins' death.
In the previously filed lawsuit, a federal magistrate found on Thursday that Weilmuenster and his client are entitled to transcriptions of closed session board meetings from 2007 to present. A trial in that case is set for Oct. 15 in Benton.
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