Gallatin, Tennessee – The parents of a former student at Shafer Middle School in Sumner County, Tennessee, have reached a settlement with former teacher Robert Ring. This agreement closes a chapter in a disturbing case that began in 2019 and led to a civil lawsuit filed in 2020.
The Initial Allegations and Legal Proceedings
Robert Ring, a 54-year-old former social studies teacher at the Gallatin school, faced serious accusations in May 2019. Allegations surfaced that Ring engaged in inappropriate contact and conversations of a sexual nature with several students. These disturbing revelations led to his arrest in June 2019. In Sumner County Criminal Court, he was charged with two counts each of aggravated sexual battery, a Class B felony, and assault. These charges related to four separate incidents at the school in April and May of that year.
The case took a controversial turn in September 2020. Ring entered into a plea agreement, pleading guilty to a lesser charge of aggravated assault. The other three charges were dropped by prosecutors. As a result of this plea, Ring was sentenced to three years’ probation. Remarkably, he was not required to register as a sex offender, and his criminal record has since been expunged. Additionally, Ring surrendered his teaching license, was ordered to pay $630 in restitution, and perform 500 hours of community service. In 2021, the Tennessee State Board of Education permanently revoked Ring’s teaching license.
The Civil Lawsuit and Settlement
A month after the plea agreement, the parents of one of Ring’s students filed a civil lawsuit in Sumner County Circuit Court. They alleged that their child suffered severe emotional trauma, including nightmares and PTSD, due to Ring’s predatory behavior. The lawsuit sought significant damages, accusing Ring of isolating their son for inappropriate sexual conversations and touching him inappropriately.
The abuse reportedly ended when the boy, fearing an escalation in Ring’s behavior, informed his parents about the incidents on May 16, 2019. The next day, the boy’s parents met with the school’s principal, local authorities were contacted, and Ring was suspended pending the investigation’s outcome.
The lawsuit also claimed negligence on the part of the school system for failing to act on prior reports of inappropriate behavior by Ring. However, as per court documents signed by Circuit Court Judge Joe Thompson on Nov. 16, the lawsuit against the Sumner County Board of Education has been dismissed with prejudice.
On the same day, Judge Thompson approved a settlement agreement in the case against Ring and signed an order to seal all related documents, including those pertaining to the settlement. The court recognized the need to protect the privacy of the minor involved in this case. As a result, the details of the settlement reached between Ring and the plaintiffs remain confidential.
This legal conclusion brings some closure to a harrowing case that has highlighted critical issues in student safety and the responsibilities of educational institutions. While the details of the settlement are confidential, the case’s resolution marks an important step in addressing and rectifying the harm caused to the young victim and his family. The dismissal of the lawsuit against the Sumner County Board of Education suggests a conclusion to the legal proceedings, but the broader implications for school safety and teacher conduct remain relevant and pressing concerns.
