College student Cameron Clarkson sues high school over past sexual abuse incident

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Six years ago, Cameron Clarkson was a 16-year-old sophomore on his high school’s football team when he said he engaged in a sexual “relationship” with his 25-year-old teacher.

The teacher, Gail Gagne, was later charged with fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct and barred from teaching following the conviction.

Clarkson, now 22 and a college student, said he learned over time that the “relationship” was actually sexual abuse.

Clarkson told WCCO-TV his time with Gagne “felt special,” but once the news spread around Cretin-Derham Hall High School, he became an outcast. Clarkson said he became the target of taunting and bullying — at one point, other students covered his car in peanut butter, to which he has a severe allergy.

He said their “relationship” lasted two months.

Clarkson is taking his former school to court, claiming its administration failed to protect him.

Gagne, during official depositions, indicated that “she didn’t think the pair’s relationship constituted sexual assault, and didn’t know it was inappropriate until undergoing training from the school about maintaining proper boundaries.”

She must now register as a sex offender. Clarkson tells WCCO-TV’s John Lauritsen he wants his high school to “take responsibility for not providing a safe environment and pay his mother back the tuition she paid for his education.”

A court date is reportedly slated for December 1. The school has previously not reached a settlement in the case and has provided no comment to media other than that the matter is going to trial.