It's every parent's worst nightmare to learn that their child has experienced sexual misconduct. When you sent your child to their Wyoming high school, you expected that they would be safe. After all, your high school has a responsibility to each and every student to protect them from harm.
Your student's high school has other responsibilities, as well—such as providing every student with a fair hearing. If your student faces sexual misconduct accusations at their WY high school, your school needs to remember that your student has rights. Your school needs to consider your child innocent until proven guilty; your school needs to provide your student written notice of their charges and consequences; your school needs to allow your student the opportunity to defend themselves.
There's a lot at stake in your child's sexual misconduct hearing. Regardless of the punishments your school may recommend (which could be severe), a charge of sexual misconduct on your student's permanent record could ruin their future before it begins.
You need to take steps now to protect your student's potential. As soon as you learn of your student's situation, you need to reach out to a smart, hard-working legal team straight away.
What Are Title IX Cases? Do They Really Happen in Wyoming High Schools?
Title IX is a federal law that oversees the way that public schools in the USA handle sexual misconduct cases. Among other stipulations, Title IX makes it necessary for any school that receives public funding to investigate and adjudicate any sexual misconduct cases promptly.
It can be hard to fully realize that sexual misconduct does happen in Wyoming high schools. You may want to believe that your child's school is too small or remote for these types of nefarious activities. However, this is far from the case.
- In 2017, one student from the Teton County School District allegedly raped a classmate.
- In 2020, a Wyoming high school student reported that she “was subjected to severe student-against-student harassment and retaliation” at her school.
- In 2019, one high school student faced jail time for allegedly sexually assaulting two female classmates.
These are only the cases that make it to the news; many more surely occur. As unpleasant as it may seem, you need to be prepared. If your student stands accused of sexual misconduct at their Wyoming high school, you need to act quickly to protect their rights.
The specific actions that constitute sexual misconduct at your Wyoming high school should appear in your student's handbook or your school's code of conduct. One national source suggests that a common list of infractions may include the following:
- Stalking
- Pressure to perform sexual acts
- Any unwanted sexual touching or activity
- Interfering with another person's use of birth control
- Unwanted sexual comments or verbal abuse
- Any sexual threats
- Rape
- Taking advantage of another without consent
- Sharing sexual images or media without consent
What Happens After a Wyoming High School Allegation of Sexual Assault?
Once one student makes an allegation against another, the process of investigating their claims and meting out fair measures will begin. The specifics of what your student will experience may depend upon your school's unique policies, so checking out your school's code of conduct is key.
According to one Wyoming school's code of conduct, your student may be able to expect:
- An official, written notification from the school that details the specific charges against your student
- Some kind of investigation into the allegations against your student. This may include an analysis of all related evidence, interviews with witnesses, and an examination into your student's past conduct
- A formal hearing, particularly if your student's alleged conduct was severe
- A written determination of your student's guilt
- A recommendation for further restorative or punitive measures
- A chance to appeal the school's decision if it seems unfair or unwarranted in any way
Your school may offer you representation, but it's always a good idea to hire your own external counsel. Any advisor that your school provides will be, first and foremost, loyal to your school. You need to work with someone you completely trust to stand by your family through the entire sexual misconduct case.
Punishments to Expect in a Wyoming Sexual Misconduct Case
Wondering what consequences your child may expect as a result of their sexual misconduct case? The specific punitive measures your school may pursue will depend upon the specific policies they employ. Depending upon the severity of the alleged infraction, your student could expect a wide range of punishments, including a loss of privileges, therapy, behavioral contracts, probation, expulsion, or even a referral to external law enforcement.
However, the real consequences may go far beyond immediate unpleasant punishments. If your student has a marred reputation due to alleged sexual misconduct, it could be difficult for your student to apply to further academic opportunities or even start their dream career down the line.
Taking steps now to protect your child's rights is the most important thing you can do to support their successful future.
Joseph D. Lento Is A Wyoming Title IX Advisor Ready to Support Your Family
If your student faces Title IX or sexual misconduct allegations at your Wyoming high school, it can be easy to feel like you're drowning in paperwork, intense meetings, and due process. Especially if this is your first experience dealing with your school's disciplinary process, you may feel very overwhelmed very quickly.
It doesn't have to be this way.
At the Lento Law Firm, we pride ourselves on offering top-tier support for families struggling with student sexual misconduct cases. Joseph D. Lento has spent years guiding families to successful outcomes with aggressive defense, careful analysis, and strategic representation. Whether your Wyoming high school decides to adjudicate your student's Title IX or sexual misconduct case with a thorough investigation or formal hearing, Joseph D. Lento will bring his expertise and experience to defend your student.
Contact the Lento Law Firm today by calling 888-535-3686, or, alternatively, you can fill out our online form to learn more.
Wyoming high schools where Joseph D. Lento can help as your child's Title IX advisor during investigations, hearings and appeals include, but are not limited to, the following school districts:
A
- Albany County School District Number 1
B
- Big Horn County School District Number 1
- Big Horn County School District Number 2
- Big Horn County School District Number 3
- Big Horn County School District Number 4
C
- Campbell County School District Number 1
- Carbon County School District Number 1
- Carbon County School District Number 2
- Converse County School District Number 1
- Converse County School District Number 2
- Crook County School District Number 1
F
- Fremont County School District Number 1
- Fremont County School District Number 2
- Fremont County School District Number 6
- Fremont County School District Number 14
- Fremont County School District Number 21
- Fremont County School District Number 24
- Fremont County School District Number 25
- Fremont County School District Number 38
G
- Goshen County School District Number 1
H
- Hot Springs County School District Number 1
J
- Johnson County School District Number 1
L
- Laramie County School District 1
- Laramie County School District Number 2
- Lincoln County School District Number 1
- Lincoln County School District Number 2
N
- Natrona County School District 1
- Niobrara County School District Number 1
P
- Park County School District Number 1
- Park County School District Number 6
- Park County School District Number 16
- Platte County School District Number 1
- Platte County School District Number 2
S
- Sheridan County School District Number 1
- Sheridan County School District Number 2
- Sheridan County School District Number 3
- Sublette County School District Number 1
- Sublette County School District Number 9
- Sweetwater County School District Number 1
- Sweetwater County School District Number 2
T
- Teton County School District Number 1
U
- Uinta County School District Number 1
- Uinta County School District Number 4
- Uinta County School District Number 6
W
- Washakie County School District Number 1
- Washakie County School District Number 2
- Weston County School District Number 1
- Weston County School District Number 7
It is critical to make certain the Title IX investigation at your child's Wyoming high school is handled properly and that the accused student's interests and rights are protected from as early as possible during the sexual misconduct investigative process. One major reason is because even at high schools where a finding of responsibility for sexual misconduct charges is made at a hearing, the investigation will set the stage for what the hearing panel is provided prior to a hearing (and what the hearing panel will in large part rely on at a hearing), and at high schools where the finding of responsibility is made solely through the investigative process, what takes place during the investigation itself will determine whether the accused student is found responsible or not responsible for Title IX charges.
Unfortunately, some parents make the mistake of not taking the necessary precautions as soon as possible when accused of sexual misconduct. Some people will mistakenly believe that if they "just explain what happened," their school will be fair and impartial and will arrive at the truth. In a perfect world this may be the case, but in a perfect world, sexual misconduct allegations and Title IX charges would not exist.
Fighting passionately for the future of his clients at schools throughout the nation for many years, Joseph D. Lento knows how important it is to mount the strongest defense because he understands that an accused high school student's academic future is on the line. He does not settle for the easiest outcome, and instead prioritizes his clients' needs and well-being. Joseph Lento is a licensed attorney in New Jersey and New York, is admitted as an attorney pro hac vice in state and federal court if needed when representing clients nationwide, and serves as a Title IX attorney advisor to high school students facing sexual misconduct investigations and disciplinary cases in Wyoming and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National High School Title IX Attorney Joseph D. Lento today at 888-535-3686.
