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The family of a teenager who was assaulted by a well-known high school wrestler in Iowa has opted to dismiss their lawsuit against the school district following a settlement of $78,500.
In 2022, serious allegations surfaced against Kade Blume, a two-time state champion wrestler, along with another student. The allegations led to significant scrutiny of the Roland-Story Community Schools, with claims of favoritism toward the accused. Blume and his co-accused were charged with sexually assaulting a younger student during a hazing event on New Year’s Day, when Blume was just 16 years old.
The Story County Sheriff’s Office took action against Blume and the other student, initially charging Blume as an adult. However, the case was later transferred to juvenile court where he ultimately entered a guilty plea. Details surrounding the resolution of the case remain confidential, while the other teen faced charges as a juvenile.
Blume’s penalties reportedly included a brief suspension from wrestling, but he did not face academic consequences. Just weeks after the charges, he returned to competition and won a wrestling invitational. This perceived leniency from the school district sparked public outrage, resulting in the resignation of a school board member and the withdrawal of another team from a wrestling event that included Blume.
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Eventually, the district chose to bench Blume for the entire 2022-23 season. He later returned to the mat in his senior year, where he once again showcased his talent by winning a third state championship.
In 2023, the victim’s parents initiated legal action against the school. They accused officials of trivializing Blume’s actions as mere “boys being boys” and overlooked their son’s need for support. Specifically, they claimed their son was subjected to a “walk of shame” in which he had to recite details of the assault to his teachers, and that he was not adequately separated from Blume.
Following the incident, the family transferred their son to a different school district. They also reported that Roland-Story deducted credits for classes their son could not complete online following the incident. Due to the sensitive nature of the case, the family has not been publicly named.
A spokesperson for the school district acknowledged the settlement but refrained from providing further commentary.
The family’s attorney, Alison Kanne, expressed in an email that they had “reached an agreement with the Roland-Story Community School District after years of fighting” and that they are eager to move forward as a family.
William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa district settles suit from student sexually assaulted by wrestler
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