In the city of Lexington, Kentucky, a disturbing lawsuit has been filed in U.S. District Court by former Kentucky swim team members, Briggs Alexander and an individual identified as Jane Doe. The lawsuit names the school, former coach Lars Jorgensen, and athletic director Mitch Barnhart as defendants, alleging a series of sexual assaults, including rape, by the former coach. The plaintiffs claim that the school “purposefully” ignored multiple credible reports of inappropriate sexual relationships within the program.
The lawsuit paints a harrowing picture of a toxic and sexually hostile environment fostered by Jorgensen. Alexander, who now identifies as male, alleges that Jorgensen spent years grooming him and creating a sexually hostile atmosphere, ultimately leading to incidents of assault and rape. Jane Doe, another victim, was allegedly subjected to years of grooming and sexual harassment by Jorgensen.
Furthermore, the lawsuit details additional disturbing allegations of sexual assault by Jorgensen towards an assistant coach, identified as Jane Doe II. These assaults reportedly began at a Christmas party in December 2013.
The lawsuit also implicates former head coach Gary Conelly, alleging that he failed to address previous misconduct by Jorgensen during his tenure at Toledo University. It further claims that Barnhart did not investigate or follow up on allegations of misconduct, ultimately hiring Jorgensen despite knowledge of these issues.
Both Jorgensen and Conelly have denied the allegations, with Jorgensen dismissing them as untrue. Kentucky University, in response to the lawsuit, stated that Jorgensen is no longer employed by the institution and emphasized its commitment to taking sexual assault allegations seriously.
The lawsuit, initially reported by The Athletic, also highlights concerns raised by University of Toledo assistant coach Mark Howard regarding Jorgensen’s behavior while at the school in Ohio. These concerns were reportedly not addressed, leading to Jorgensen’s subsequent hiring by Kentucky.
In light of these serious allegations, SafeSport, an organization that investigates sexual abuse and misconduct, has added Jorgensen to a disciplinary database. Kentucky University has affirmed its commitment to addressing concerns of harassment and misconduct within its community and ensuring the well-being of its employees and students..
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