PIERCE COUNTY, Ga. — A former Pierce County, Georgia, school leader has been sued over allegations he molested a teen in the early 2000s.
Action News Jax first reported the allegations in February, and spoke exclusively with the alleged victim when he filed a complaint with local law enforcement against former Pierce County School Board chair Mark Dixon.
Dixon resigned from his position as school board chair the next day.
"People need to know because he could do it to somebody else," the alleged victim said in February.
The lawsuit, filed Sept. 10, said Dixon gave the plaintiff Xanax and marijuana while he was under the age of 18 in 2001 and 2002.
Court documents said Dixon sexually molested the teen while the teen was under the influence of drugs.
The lawsuit is seeking for a trial by jury and $2 million, which includes damages for pain and suffering.
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John Thigpen Jr. represents the plaintiff and told Action News Jax while he can't comment on the specifics in the case, he does say the case was possible because of the Georgia Hidden Predator Act.
"Most victims don't realize that they're victims until years later, sometimes decades later and by that time it's too late and what Georgia did is they recognized that," Thigpen said. "It now allows people to come in no matter how long ago the act occurred. They've got until 2017 to come into the civil court."
Thigpen said the new law allows potential victims to seek justice for the next two years.
"They'll still have concerns and problems that they'll deal with but at least they've had their day in court," Thigpen said.
Action News Jax tried speaking with Dixon about the lawsuit Wednesday, but there was no answer at his door.
Dixon New Holland Tractor Company is also named in the lawsuit and an Action News Jax reporter was told to leave the property when looking for comment there.
The lawsuit said, "Dixon was acting within the scope of his employment at Dixon New Holland Tractor Company when he used Dixon New Holland Tractor Company's assets to entice plaintiff to remain silent about the abuse."
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