Associated Press
A former student at Manti High School has filed a federal complaint alleging she was propositioned and sexually harassed by the school's basketball coach.The complaint, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court by Amber Peterson and her father, Richard Peterson, seeks more than $50,000 in damages from the South Sanpete School District and Craig McAffe, coach and math teacher.
The Petersons also seek unspecified punitive damages from the school district for failing to stop the alleged activity, injunctive relief preventing McAffe from any contact with Amber Peterson and "adequate safeguards so that she can in the future continue as a student at Manti High School without further repercussions or sexual harassment."
The girl, a 14-year-old ninth-grader at the time of the alleged incidents, was ridiculed by other students because of her complaints, the complaint said, and now attends Gunnison High.
McAffe could not be reached for comment. South Sanpete Superintendent Lew Mullins said two investigations of Peterson's charges found no evidence of wrongdoing by the coach.
"When it was first mentioned, it was investigated immediately by police. They found no criminal action," the superintendent said. "We feel very secure in our position. Coach McAffe is innocent."