Salina School District Reaches $2.6 Million Settlement With Victims Of Molestation Involving Former Coach

Victims and the Salina School District reached a $2.6 million settlement in connection with a 2019 lewd molestation case.

McBride & McBride Lawyers of Oklahoma represents 15 victims in the case and says it secured justice for those affected by the egregious actions that occurred at Salina High School.

The law firm says the girls in this case were able to get closure, but many cases of sexual assault are under-reported.

“We still believe there are more victims than came forward. It is very tough for anyone but especially for a middle school girl to come forward and say ‘this has happened to me,” attorney Chase McBride said.

He says after nearly five years, 15 former 8th-grade students of Salina School District can focus on the rest of their lives.

The victims sued the district after prosecutors say coach and tutor John Horner, who is no longer with the district, sexually assaulted the group while they were students.

“Regardless of the money value of this, we also were able to see an actual change in the community and the school district,” McBride said.

McBride says the case led to the resignation of the district’s superintendent and principal, and now, a $2,625,000 settlement.

The district will pay a million dollars upfront and the rest over three years.

"This is going to set a precedent being one of the largest settlements in Oklahoma history with a school district that this type of behavior from a school district is not going to be tolerated in Oklahoma any longer,” McBride said.

McBride says he hopes the girls in this case bring confidence to other victims.

“I also want them to be the beacon and the precedent that, if any other schools or entities are doing this type of thing and sweeping it under the rug, people are coming for you,” McBride said.

McBride says a civil suit is still pending against Horner, who is now representing himself.

Horner’s attorney withdrew from the case earlier today.