MCPSS faces federal lawsuit after classroom sex incident, sparks conversation of cameras in classrooms

THEODORE, Ala. ( WKRG ) — The Mobile County Public School System is facing a federal lawsuit that seeks damages for supposed negligence after a teacher pleaded guilty to having classroom sex with a 17-year-old student.

The lawsuit, filed on Feb. 23, 2024, seeks damages related to a 2022 sex crime committed by former Theodore High School teacher Patricia Evans. Evans pleaded guilty to one count of School Employee Sex Act on April 23, 2024.

Evans was given a 15-year sentence but only served three days of that sentence before being released on two years of probation. Evans was released on March 18, 2022.

The Mobile County District Attorney’s Office said Evans has since moved and is a registered sex offender.

Cameras in Classrooms

According to the student’s attorney, William Casey, the student’s mother is advocating for cameras to be installed in all Mobile County Public Schools classrooms. According to Carey, this is an effort to prevent the crime from happening to other students.

The crime happened in school board member Johnny Hatcher’s district. Hatcher, who couldn’t speak on the lawsuit, said he has always supported cameras in MCPSS classrooms.

“I want to put them everywhere,” Hatcher said. “Why wouldn’t you want to do it?”

Hatcher said cameras could deter both teachers and students from getting away with things that sometimes happen behind closed doors.

“When you have cameras in there, it’s kind of hard to lie and say you didn’t do certain things,” Hatcher said. “If a teacher is doing something wrong, then hey, there’s the evidence, then we can go ahead and handle that… Nobody wants to believe that their child does anything wrong, me included. It kind of helps with that.”

According to Hatcher, cameras in classrooms could soon be an agenda item for the school board to consider. It would need three of five votes to pass.

WKRG reached out to MCPSS spokesperson Rena Phillips. She acknowledged the request, but WKRG has yet to hear back.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.