Former student sues school district over sexual abuse by janitor

A former student is suing a northwest suburban school district that employed a janitor convicted of sexual assault of minors.

Kendrick Ingram, 48, was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2007 after he pleaded guilty to a felony count of predatory criminal sexual assault, according to the suit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court.

While working as a janitor at Mechanics Grove Elementary School in 2006, Ingram kissed the then 9-year-old student on her lips and had other inappropriate contact with her, the suit said. He also told the girl to keep their relationship secret and that his wife would be jealous if she found out about them.

The former student is seeking more than $150,0000 in two counts against Washington-based Labor Ready, Inc., who hired Ingram on behalf of the district to work at the school, according to the suit.

The suit accuses Labor Ready of being responsible for the sexual battery of the girl an of negligence when it hired Ingram to work at the school and did not perform a background check that would have revealed his history of sexual abuse against minors.

The suit also seeks more than $150,000 in two counts against the Mundelein School District 75 Board of Education, which is accused of negligence and of violating the former student’s civil rights by not ensuring that Labor Ready performed background checks on Ingram.

The Mundelein School District 75 and Labor Ready did not immediately respond when asked for comment.