Lawsuit Against Former Mentor Schoolteacher Dismissed

A lawsuit against a former teacher at Mentor Schools has been dismissed in Lake County Court of Common Pleas.

However, the plaintiff may refile the lawsuit by May 31, 3012.

Barry Valentine, 37, had a sexual relationship with a student while teaching for the district. For which, he was convicted of 16 counts of sexual battery and sentenced to eight years in prison.

In December, the student , asking for at least $50,000 in damages. The victim is not named in the lawsuit, as she was a minor when the crimes occurred. Instead, she is referred to as "Jane Doe."

In her suit, she said that Valentine assaulted her, inflicted emotional distress and should pay punitive damages for the physical and emotional trauma he caused.

"As a direct and proximate result of defendant Barry Valentine's extreme and outrageous conduct, (the plaintiff) suffered severe emotional trauma," the suit said.

However, in May, the plaintiff's attorneys – Rhonda Baker Debevec and Melissa Kelly – equested the suit be dismissed. Judge Eugene Lucci granted their request.

However, it may be refiled within a year of when the initial suit was dismissed.

Court documents do not indicate why the attorneys wanted the suit dismissed and Debevec did not return a call seeking comment.

According to the now-dismissed suit, the sexual assaults began in 2007, when the victim was 15.

"These sexual assaults frequently occurred after (Valentine) illegally purchased alcohol for (the plaintiff) and pressured her to drink at multiple bars and taverns," the suit said.

Valentine taught music at Orchard Hollow and Morton Elementary schools. Before that, he taught at Shore Junior High.

The conduct between the student and teacher lasted for more than a year and began at a summer music camp, according to police.

During Valentine's sentencing, his attorney, Mark Zicarelli, described the relationship between the teacher and student as consensual.

A consensual relationship between a teacher and a minor student is still sexual battery under the Ohio Revised Code.

Valentine had worked at Mentor Schools for a decade. He resigned after he was charged.

He is serving his sentence at Belmont Correctional Institution.