Female Joliet HS Employee Sexually Groomed Teen Boy: Federal Lawsuit

JOLIET — Joliet Township High School administrators they are aware of the federal lawsuit filed by a Class of 2023 graduate against District 204 and Breah Pointer, who worked for them as a social worker at Pathways, the Joliet alternative school near the Joliet Central campus. The lawsuit accuses Pointer of engaging in sexual misconduct with the student since his sophomore year.

"During the period of time between approximately April 27, 2023, and May 20, 2023, Defendant and Plaintiff exchanged over 350 text messages," the federal lawsuit outlined. "During this period, Defendant Pointer in a text message encouraged Plaintiff ...to 'grip/cuff/grab' her, 'not just a lil (sic) tap.' During this period, Defendant offered to come and pick Plaintiff up from his home in Joliet and take him back to her home in Country Club Hills, almost 25 miles away.

"Defendant during this time, in addition to the inappropriate sexual interactions with Plaintiff, also gave Plaintiff money to purchase marijuana, as well as a tattoo."

Pointer, who turns 30 this summer, submitted her resignation last August, according to Kristine Schlismann, director of community relations for Joliet Township District 204.

"The Joliet Township High School Board of Education accepted Ms. Pointer’s resignation at the August 15, 2023, board meeting," Schlismann wrote to Joliet Patch's editor. "Ms. Pointer is not employed at Pathways or JTHS currently, and has not worked within any JTHS programs since the conclusion of the 2022-2023 school year. Unfortunately, we cannot comment on pending litigation."

The lawsuit against Joliet Township District 204 and Pointer was filed in recent weeks by the Kreamer Law Group out of Naperville. According to the plaintiffs, District 204 has 6,958 students, including the alternative Pathways Program campus.

Joliet Patch is not identifying the plaintiff because he was underage at the time of the alleged sexual misconduct by Pointer, according to the lawsuit allegations.

The plaintiff was a special education student, who graduated in 2023. Pointer began to work with him during his sophomore year.

"During Plaintiff's sophomore year, Defendant Pointer began flirting with Plaintiff," the lawsuit outlined. "This behavior would take place in the hallways at school, within Defendant’s office during sessions with Plaintiff, and at times when Plaintiff should have been in class. Defendant would call Plaintiff to her office and excuse him from class, for one to two periods at a time."

While in Pointer's office, she would sit on the teenage boy's lap, "while describing in detail her sexual desires and what she would like to do sexually with the plaintiff," the federal lawsuit indicated. "Defendant’s wholly inappropriate behavior escalated to text messages, phone calls and Face Time calls, wherein defendant removed her clothing and touched herself while Plaintiff watched."

According to Kreamer Law Group, the Pathways alternative student received a text message from Pointer starting Nov. 16, 2021, and "this began a string of text messages wherein Defendant would go on to describe the inappropriate feelings and sexual desires she was having for Plaintiff. Defendant would text Plaintiff during school hours, as well as on his personal time, and well into the late hours of the night into the early hours of the morning."

The lawsuit contends that Pointer, as a licensed school social worker, "knew or should have known this behavior was inappropriate, unethical, and illegal. That, however, did not stop Defendant from pursuing Plaintiff with her behavior steadily growing more aggressive and salacious. In addition to texting Plaintiff about her sexual fantasies and desires for him, Defendant went on to describe the manner in which she pleasured herself to climax while thinking about Plaintiff."

Furtermore, Pointer made a Face Time call in which "she caressed her naked body while the Plaintiff watched," the federal lawsuit noted. "Defendant Pointer, as a social worker, held a position of power and trust over the Plaintiff. Defendant used sexual prowess and intimidation against Plaintiff, who was already impressionable and in a precarious position and was a minor with no ability to consent."

Kreamer Law Group contends that Pointer "began a pattern of grooming and manipulative behaviors towards the Plaintiff. During multiple sessions as well as via text messages and phone calls, Defendant would chide Plaintiff when or if he expressed interest in other female students, his own age. On one occasion at least, Plaintiff opened up and spoke to Defendant about his interests in other females, on or about May 20, 2022, Defendant texted Plaintiff stating, 'Thanks for breaking my heart.'

"Defendant genuinely believed she was in a relationship with Plaintiff. This type of grooming and manipulation continued throughout the tenure of the Plaintiff’s interactions with Defendant."

As for the allegations raised against Joliet Township High School District 204, "Defendant Pointer did knowingly violate Defendant JTHS’s policies put in place to protect the children it serves," attorney John Kreamer argues. "For approximately two and half years, Defendant Pointer under the supervision of Defendant JTHS did knowingly engage in the sexual exploitation of Plaintiff (name withheld), a minor student with a disability and an IEP documenting his troubles with substance use disorder among other challenges."

According to Will County court records, Pointer, the former District 204 social worker, has not been charged with any criminal wrongdoing in connection with the allegations raised by the former Pathways student.

Joliet Patch has reached out to Joliet Police Department to learn whether there is any pending criminal investigation surrounding the case.

"I am told that our investigation is complete and that we have turned it over to the Illinois Department of Education," Joliet Police Department spokesman Dwayne English notified Patch on Tuesday afternoon.