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In 2022, Anthony Guadalupe, a teacher, was arrested on charges of child sexual abuse related to his employment at Chappelle School in St. Johns County, Florida.
The Case Against Anthony Guadalupe
Guadalupe faces 12 counts of lewd and lascivious molestation and two counts of lewd exhibition. Prosecutors revealed classroom surveillance footage depicting what they described as a “brazen” assault on a 4-year-old child. There are allegations of multiple assaults between May and July 2022.
Initially pleading guilty to 14 counts of child molestation in October 2023, Guadalupe later retracted his plea, pleading not guilty to additional charges. This decision had significant ramifications, derailing a negotiated sentence and potentially exposing him to a minimum of 103 years in prison if convicted.
Citing a complex array of mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, Guadalupe’s attorney argues that his client was experiencing an acute psychotic reaction during the incidents in question.
How Might An Insanity Defense Impact a Civil Law Suit?
Was the school aware or should have been aware of Guadalupe’s mental health issues? Did they fail to take appropriate action? Proper background checks and adequate supervision could have caught any significant mental health challenges.
When there is a criminal conviction, the fact that abuse occurred does not need to be proved because it transfers from the criminal court to the civil court. The doctrine of res judicata says that if an adjudication has already been made in a competent court, i.e., an assault, it does not need to be relitigated. As a result, if there is no conviction, it cannot be used to prove abuse.
However, if a defendant admits he committed a crime, that admission can be used against him in a civil case. So, the admission statement would be admissible against the defendant or an organization.
Can I File A Lawsuit Against The Child Care?
Yes. You might have rights if you were a victim of Anthony Guadalupe while at the child care center.
Andreozzi + Foote is a leading sexual abuse law firm in the nation. Contact us today to discuss your possible legal rights.
