Lawsuits say schools knew of sex abuse

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 15 (UPI) -- Burke County, N.C., school officials have been sued for their alleged awareness of a teacher who sexually assaulted his students.

Two lawsuits were filed Monday in federal court in Charlotte by guardians of unidentified children, naming administrators of Hildebran Elementary School in Connelly Springs, the Burke County Board of Education and teacher Michael Andrew Alexander as defendants, court records said.

One suit also names Hildebran principal Wendi Barber, and the other names school guidance counselor Linda Bradshaw as defendants.

The suits claim the school officials were aware of examples of Alexander's abuse, but failed to act.

Alexander pleaded guilty in July 2012 to a first-degree sex offense with a child and to taking liberties with a child. He is currently serving a 50-year prison sentence, The Charlotte Observer reported Tuesday.