Appeal filed in sexual abuse case against Lorena ISD

LORENA, Texas – A Central Texas school principal filed an appeal June 11 after a judge denied her request to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the parents of a preschool child who was sexually abused at school.

The lawsuit against the Lorena Independent School District and Lorena Primary School Principal April Jewell has been going on for ten months in federal court in Waco, and this is just the latest chapter in the process.

The lawsuit comes after Nicolas Scott Crenshaw, a longtime substitute teacher for Lorena ISD, was convicted of charges related to sexual abuse and indecent conduct toward two Lorena Primary School students between 2020 and 2021, according to the lawsuit obtained by 6 News.

The parents of one of the children had filed a lawsuit against the school district and the principal for failing to investigate and report Crenshaw’s actions toward the four- and five-year-olds, even though several Lorena Elementary School staff members had raised concerns, the complaint said.

The civil suit alleges five misdemeanors against Lorena ISD and Jewell, including violations of Title IX, lack of training and supervision, lack of policy, and arbitrary and conscience-violating executive actions.

Under the names Mary and John Doe, the plaintiffs, the parents of one of the children, are seeking damages from the district and Jewell for the physical, emotional, educational and other harm the child has suffered since the incidents of sexual abuse occurred.

Lorena ISD and Jewell filed motions to dismiss, but the motions were denied by Judge Alan Albright on June 5. In response, Jewell has filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Jewell’s trial in federal court in Waco is now on hold pending the outcome of the appeal.

According to the district’s website, Jewell remains principal of Lorena Primary School.