Former CMSD security guard ordered to pay $100,000 to 2 students he sexually assaulted
Cleveland OH January 5th, 2024
A former security guard at CMSD’s East Technical High School has agreed to pay a total of $100,000 to settle lawsuits filed by two students he sexually assaulted in 2018.
Derrick Dugger, while working as a security guard at East Tech High School, inappropriately touched two 15-year-old girls between May and October 2018, according to court documents.
Dugger was indicted on Nov. 30, 2018 on charges including two counts of rape, two counts of sexual battery and one count of importuning.
The school district suspended Dugger when the allegations surfaced.
In June of 2019, Dugger pleaded guilty to sexual battery, gross sexual imposition and importuning.
A month later, he was sentenced to four years in prison and required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. He was given a Tier III sex offender designation, the most severe classification. He must register his residence every 90 days in person.
Each student filed a civil suit, naming Dugger, CMSD, East Tech High School and then-superintendent Eric Gordon as plaintiffs.
On Tuesday, Dugger consented to judgments in favor of the students and was ordered to pay each $50,000, with an interest rate of 4% per year from the date of the judgment.
