Court Rejects High School Teacher’s Challenge to Jury Verdict
LAFAYETTE, IN: In November 2024, an Indiana jury found Ja’Shon Burks guilty of felony child seduction committed against eight victims while he was employed as a choir director at Lafayette Jefferson High School. Burks appealed his conviction, which was upheld by the Indiana Court of Appeals in a unanimous opinion.
Burks had only been employed as a teacher and choir director at Jefferson High School for a few years before he resigned in November 2022 amid allegations of sexual harassment by several girls in the school’s choir program. Witnesses testified that Burks spent excessive time alone with girls in his office behind closed doors giving private voice lessons and having personal conversations. During a four-day trial, the jury heard testimony about how Burks routinely flirted with female students, hugged them, complimented their appearance, made sexual comments, kissed them, put his hands under their clothing and groped or fondled them.
“A lot of child sexual abuse never even gets reported, let alone prosecuted resulting in the criminal conviction of the abuser,” said Massillamany Jeter & Carson partner and sexual abuse attorney Tom Blessing, who represented three of the victims in civil lawsuits against the Lafayette School Corporation. “I’m so impressed with these courageous young ladies. They had to tell their story to a lot of people: DCS, the police, in their depositions and finally during the trial. But they knew speaking out was the right thing—for themselves and other potential victims.”
Blessing was not surprised by the ruling, saying “It helps having the truth on our side. The jury did the right thing when it rendered its verdict, so it was nice to see that upheld on appeal. Hopefully this gives my clients some sense that the system works and they can move on with their lives.”
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