CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) -
A mother is suing a Chicago Public Schools staff member removed from his job and arrested this month for allegedly fondling and sending sexually suggestive texts to her 14-year-old daughter.
Idris L. Bridgeforth, 39, of 14500 block of South Parnell Avenue in Riverdale, was charged June 6 with indecent solicitation and criminal sexual assault of a supervised victim, both felonies, according to Chicago Police. He has been removed from the school where he worked and remains behind bars on a $250,000 bond.
Bridgeforth is a paraprofessional, or career service employee, at Ashburn Elementary School in the 8300 block of South Saint Louis Avenue. He is also a coach and the school's technology director, CPS spokeswoman Robyn Ziegler said, adding he is not a teacher as police initially reported.
He has been banned from all CPS facilities with pay, and a pre-suspension hearing was scheduled to determine if he should be suspended without pay, Ziegler said.
The outcome of that hearing was not immediately known, and a Chicago Public Schools had no immediate comment on Monday's lawsuit.
Prosecutors said the victim, a 14-year-old eighth-grader who has known Bridgeforth since fourth grade, is a member of the girls' basketball and track teams he coaches, and looked to him as a "father figure" and "mentor."
Between December 2011 and June 2012, Bridgeforth gave the girl rides home from practices and sporting events, prosecutors said in court, and on several occasions, "he rubbed her breasts over and under her clothes" and also rubbed her genital area.
Monday's suit claims the rides in his private car violated CPS and Ashburn Elementary policies.
Bridgeforth was also "corresponding back and forth" with the girl via text messages, according to police and the lawsuit.
The eight-count suit claims battery against Bridgeforth, as well as infliction of emotional distress and willful and wanton conduct against both Bridgeforth and CPS. The suit seeks least $400,000 in damages, including reimbursement for the girl's medical bills.
Prosecutors said in court that on June 2, when the girl texted what Bridgeforth wanted for his birthday, he texted back that he "wanted her for his birthday." When she replied he already had her, he texted back, "not in the way he wanted her" and that he wanted her "more intimately" and would wear a condom to protect them, court records show.
Early Wednesday, the girl's mother saw a text message coming in on her iTouch late at night, wondered who would text her so late and read the text messages, prosecutors said. When she recognized Bridgeforth's number, she confronted the girl, then contacted the school. The victim also spoke to her homeroom teacher.
Bridgeforth was arrested June 6 and allegedly admitted to having inappropriate contact and sexual conduct with the victim, according to court records.
But a relative of Bridgeforth was in disbelief over his arrest.
"The family's side of the story is we don't believe it. He has two daughters so why would he mess with a child?'' Maline Bridgeforth said. "He's a decent human being. He'd do anything to help anybody. He loves his family and he's a God-fearing man.''
In court, he was ordered held on a $250,000 bond, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's office. Should he post bond, he is not allowed to have contact with anyone under the age of 18, nor have access to the Internet, computers, cellphones or tablets. A hearing is scheduled for June 28.
Prosecutors said he has no criminal record, and Maline Bridgeforth said he has two 15-year daughters (not twins).
"He's a decent human being. He'd do anything to help anybody. He loves his family and he's a god-fearing man," she said.
But prosecutors noted that he was discharged from the U.S. Army for making false official statements, larceny and presenting a false claim.
"Inappropriate behavior between employees and students is inexcusable and not tolerated by CPS at any time," spokeswoman Marielle Sainvilus said previously.
"Schools should always be a place where parents and students feel safe and secure. We took immediate action to remove the employee in question from the school and are cooperating with CPD in this investigation," she said.
