Child predators exist in every facet of our society. We like to think of them as creepy, faceless men on the internet, but they are our friends, neighbors, religious leaders, coaches, and teachers. Though it may be uncomfortable, continuing conversations about sexual predators and indicators of them is one of the best things we can do as a society.
If John Dirk Vanpatten Jr or any other part of the school system has sexually abused you or your child, you may benefit from speaking with a Michigan school sexual abuse lawyer. At White Law PLLC, we want to provide a platform for survivors to share their stories and seek justice and closure however they can.
John Dirk Vanpatten Jr Allegations
If you were a victim of Vanpatten, reach out to a Michigan sexual abuse lawyer today.
John Dirk Vanpatten Jr. worked as a teacher in two high schools in Michigan. In January of 2024, he was arrested after a prior student came forward and reported years of sexual abuse under the guise of a relationship.
According to a news report regarding when the Grand Traverse Academy teacher was arrested, Vanpatten is being charged with 16 counts of criminal sexual conduct.
Fourteen of the charges are third-degree criminal sexual conduct, and two of them are fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. According to MCL §750.520d, criminal sexual conduct in the third degree is a felony charge and indicates that the child was under the age of 15 when the assaults occurred.
In another story, Vanpatten was alleged to have purchased and gifted a burner phone to the student he is alleged to have abused. The same UpNorthLive article reports that some of the instances of abuse may have occurred on the Concord Academy Campus. Vanpatten was released on $20,000 bail in January of 2024 to await trial after pleading not guilty.
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Sexual Abuse in Schools
The prevalence of child sexual abuse in the United States is alarming in a recent study focusing on the nature and scope of educator misconduct in K-12. This study showed that nearly 10% of children experienced some degree of educator sexual misconduct between kindergarten and 12th grade.
Additionally, 85% of the reports were regarding a male educator, and 72% of students reporting the abuse were female. As expected, overall reporting rates were low at about 4%.
We’re not just lawyers. We’re passionate advocates who will ensure that your voice is heard and your rights are protected.
Warning Signs of Grooming and Educator Sexual Misconduct
In many cases of child sexual abuse perpetrated by adults, there were behaviors later identified to be grooming. The Darkness to Light Foundation focuses on educating and preventing childhood sexual abuse. It explains how grooming and red flag behaviors are calculated in nature and generally follow similar patterns across predators.
Targeting a Child
This is where an abuser will pick a child to focus attention on. Often, this child appears to have apparent vulnerabilities to exploit, such as lack of parental oversight, emotional neediness, or isolation. The offender will identify this child and begin to give them additional attention and preferential treatment.
Gaining Trust
The abuser will begin to gain the trust of the parents and the child. This effort is meant to lower protective caregivers’ suspicions and increase child access. The abuser may begin to meet the child’s desires and needs by offering to take the child to get or play a video game they really enjoy, or to a theme park they want to visit.
Meeting Needs
When the perpetrator understands the child’s wants and needs, they may provide additional attention and effort. This may be gifting the child expensive things like phones, jewelry, shoes, or other luxuries. This makes the child feel seen, understood, and loved in ways that they may not feel from others.
Isolation
The offender will begin to manipulate and emotionally isolate the child from others. They may stress their unique understanding of the child and indicate that no one else can care for the child the way they do. They will also begin to physically isolate the child by engaging in one-on-one activities like babysitting, giving rides, coaching, or tutoring.
Sexualizing the Relationship
The perpetrator will begin to introduce sexual themes in the relationship. This may be through stories, pictures, or text messages. They may create situations where both parties are naked.
Maintaining Control
When the offender has begun to abuse a child sexually, they may use shame or fear to keep control. They may make statements threatening to harm the child’s family or telling the child they could go to jail. They may also tell them their trusted adults will be upset with them or won’t understand.
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Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse
In the case of John Dirk Vanpatten Jr., he passed background checks and didn’t have a history of abuse when he was hired. The details of the case regarding any knowledge that either school did or should have had have yet to be shared at the time of the post.
As parents, caregivers, and trusted adults, we can look out for the warning signs of abuse in our children as well as the perpetrators.
Some of the behaviors to be aware of in adults are those of anyone who takes a particular interest in your child over others, gives seemingly extravagant gifts for no reason, tests boundaries of physical affection like hugging, or is abnormally interested in helping the family. An adult who appears interested in being buddies or friends with your children may be a red flag.
Some of the signs to be aware of in our children may be a sudden distaste for a specific person or location, mood swings, or changes in eating and sleeping.
A commonly overlooked sign of abuse is a sudden change in hygiene habits, where a child either stops grooming or is grooming excessively. A child who suddenly becomes more withdrawn or secretive may need extra help and support from a safe adult or mental health professional.
You will always work directly with your attorney throughout your case.
Contact a Michigan School Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today
If you or your child has survived child sexual abuse by an educator, you deserve to have a voice. At White Law PLLC, we have a long track record of positive case results working with survivors of sexual abuse, and we know that the only person to blame or hold accountable is the perpetrator. There is nothing about your abuse that is your fault.
Many survivors report a feeling of closure when they face their abuser in court. We want your story to be heard. Contact us for a free case consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t have to worry about owing us anything until we have recovered compensation for you.
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