Allegations of sexual abuse perpetrated by authority figures are not uncommon. Unfortunately, they are also often warranted. Jerremy Thompkins sexual abuse accusations involve two minors in May of 2024. Thanks to the courage of the boys to report their experiences early, they may have saved countless others from the same abuse they suffered.
Our firm is experienced in cases of sexual abuse perpetrated by individuals and facilitated or otherwise condoned by organizations and companies. We have a long track record of successful mass action and class action settlements. Our Michigan school sexual abuse lawyers are focused on providing compassionate and trauma-informed care.
White Law PLLC Represents Sexual Abuse Survivors
Our Michigan sexual abuse lawyers are dedicated to bringing justice and compensation to victims of all forms of sexual abuse, whether in school, at church, or any other organization.
We know how devastating sexual abuse can be on survivors and their families, and we know that the criminal system doesn’t always offer the closure they deserve. That’s where our Michigan personal injury lawyers can step in and demand compensation from the guilty party.
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Jerremy Thompkins
Jerremy Thompkins is a retired Detroit firefighter who has worked at nearly ten schools in the Detroit area since the early 2000s. In October of 2023, students reported instances of sexual abuse. The initial reports emerged when Thompkins facilitated a study group at his home in Detroit. These stated that the metro Detroit basketball coach allegedly stood naked over athletes during a study party at his house.
In light of these sexual abuse accusations, the district terminated the positions of Thompkins as well as the varsity coach Derrick McDowell and his entire staff due to their failure to report the incident. After further investigation, more specific instances came to light regarding a 15 and 16-year-old. These allegations resulted in charges of criminal sexual misconduct in the second and fourth degree.
Before the convictions relating to the Farmington High School students, some reports indicate this is not the first time he has seen similar charges. According to a Detroit news station, the basketball coach convicted of sexually assaulting teens had three previous charges for fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct presented in 2008 but were dismissed. Similar to the current conviction, the allegations were that Thompkins, who was the child’s weight training coach at the time, inappropriately touched a 17-year-old boy at his home.
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Sexual Abuse Accusations
News sources have reported that many people were aware of what Thompkins was likely doing. One witness who viewed Thompkins as a mentor even after he graduated reports an incident in 2020 when he called the coach for help when he had car trouble. Thompkins helped him out, and when the survivor and Thompkins ended up at his home, the young man reported that Thompkins pinned him down and began trying to touch him under his clothes.
Other reports from minors include statements that Thompkins had regular sleepovers with survivors, as many as five days a week for one of the young men who came forward. During these sleepovers, he would offer massages under the guise of being necessary for training and, at one point, began trying to touch the survivor’s genitals while on top of him. Another survivor reported that he touched him on the upper thigh on multiple occasions.
Regarding previous charges, one of the survivors reported that Thompkins would frequently become handsy with the boys. At one point, he believes Thompkins may have offered money in exchange for sex. In previous schools, it is reported that the administration became aware of these sleepovers and requested that he stop seeing students outside of school altogether.
Conviction and Sentencing of Jerremy Thompkins’s Sexual Abuse
In May of 2024, Michigan courts found Jerremy Thompkins guilty of sexually abusing two male students in his home. According to Fox2 Detroit, the courts sentenced the former Farmington basketball coach to 4-15 years in prison for the second-degree criminal sexual conduct charge and 1-2 years for the fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct charge. These charges are to be served concurrently.
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Civil Lawsuits for Sexual Abuse at the Hands of Jerremy Thompkins
If Jerremy Thompkins subjected you to abuse or put you in situations as a child that made you uncomfortable, you may be eligible to claim damages in a civil lawsuit. At White Law PLLC, we know that these situations can leave survivors feeling vulnerable and unsure of what happened or if they are responsible, but our firm will say with absolute certainty that none of what you endured is your fault in any way. Sex abusers go to great lengths to build trust with their targets and their families through grooming.
A consideration if you want to pursue a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse at the hands of Jerremy Thompkins is the statute of limitations. The statute of limitation for personal injury is the legal amount of time allowed for someone to pursue legal actions. When you work with an experienced firm like White Law PLLC, we can help you determine your options for claiming damages in civil proceedings, including how the statute of limitations may apply to your case.
We can work with you to investigate your relationship and interactions with Thompkins. While you may feel you don’t have enough evidence to convince a court of Thompkins’ abuse, as more survivors speak up, we are better able to build patterns and establish timelines. When you pursue a case, you may be able to recover monetary damages, take action to hold him accountable, and give hope to others who suffered at his hands.
You will always work directly with your attorney throughout your case.
Call a Michigan Sexual Abuse Attorney Today
Surviving sexual violence, particularly when it is at the hands of a trusted adult like a teacher or coach, is a life-altering injury. These predators spend a significant amount of time and energy building trust in ways that encourage adults and caregivers to ignore some of the behaviors to look out for when adults are with kids. This complicated dynamic makes it more difficult for targeted children to disclose what happened and easier for adults to dismiss the concerns.
We encourage you to explore our testimonials page to see what other survivors have to say about their experience with us. If Jerremy Thompkins sexually abused you and you are ready to come forward, White Law PLLC is ready to hear you. Call us today to schedule a no-obligation, free case consultation.
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