MONROE — Former Monroe teacher and basketball coach Roger Miller has been alleged to have sexually abused a former student in the Monroe School District.
The incident occurred in the late ‘70s or early ‘80s.
In November 2023, the female plaintiff, known as S.S., filed a lawsuit against the Monroe School District alleging “sexual abuse, neglect, and other damages” after a claim for damages with the district was not fulfilled.
According to the legal complaint, the district “knew or should have known that the risk of sexual abuse of students was significant and measures were needed to protect students.”
At the time of the alleged assault, S.S. was in her third year of high school and attended one of Miller’s classes.
She was “approximately 16 years old,” one of her lawyers, Kevin Hastings, said in an interview.
The legal complaint stated that S.S. “missed class and was told by Roger Miller that in order for her to pass his class, she would need to have sex with him.”
The sexual abuse happened on more than one occasion. Hastings said that she “dropped out later that year.” He mentioned she is still sorting out the details of the sexual abuse that happened in high school more than 40 years ago.
Additionally, Miller’s actions toward S.S. intentionally hindered S.S.’s “educational opportunities” because she was a female, the legal complaint said.
Due to her gender, she was a target, the lawsuit says.
District attorneys responded in court papers denying the allegations are conclusive.
The court docket shows the district was asked to be compelled to respond to a request for discovery filed by the firm Hastings works for, Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala.
“There were no reports of misconduct while he was employed here and he left the district in good standing,” district spokeswoman Erin Zacharda said. Considering he taught from 1978 to 1981 at Monroe, “there are no employees still working here who can provide any information beyond that,” Zacharda said.
According to the legal complaint, S.S. dealt with “mental anguish and severe emotional distress.” Hastings mentioned that this has been challenging for S.S. to make connections with people.
S.S. was not the only victim. Hastings said Miller “sexually abused multiple young women who were his students at various school districts.”
Hastings said a second sexual abuse allegation occurred in the Bainbridge Island School District.
Hastings said he has a strong feeling there’s more that will come forth. The firm has been advertising seeking clients.
After leaving Monroe, Miller joined the Bainbridge Island School District in 1982 as a teacher. He’s spent more than 40 years in the Bainbridge School District as a statistician for the girls’ basketball team, the Bainbridge Island Review newspaper reported in a December 2023 story celebrating Miller.
S.S. lives close to Monroe, a court document says.
Hastings said that sexual assault has “gigantic effects on people who are victims.”
According to the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN), “every nine minutes, a child is sexually assaulted in the U.S., and 93% know the perpetrator.”
Some effects are guilt, difficulty with setting boundaries in relationships, and low self-esteem.
