By Bob Christie
Associated Press
PHOENIX — A teacher who was raped by a convicted sex offender in a prison classroom is suing the state of Arizona over an attack she says has sent her into therapy and made it difficult for her to sleep.
The lawsuit filed Tuesday blames the state for failing to provide proper security and its health care provider for not providing a mental health evaluation to the prisoner. The suit says that allowed the 20-year-old convicted rapist to be classified as a relatively low-risk offender and gain access to the classroom in January.
The teacher told The Associated Press that she mostly blames Department of Corrections Director Charles Ryan for allowing lax security practices that led to the assault. A corrections spokesman says staff safety is a priority and denies the allegations.