As the distressing saga of Cedric Gerald, a former middle school principal now facing heinous charges, unfolds, more victims are feared to emerge from the shadows. Gerald, 48, has been charged with multiple crimes against children, including second-degree sexual trafficking of a child, as reported by KSDK. Currently held under a $1 million cash-only bond, the gravity of his alleged actions between January 1, 2023, and May 14, has spurred extensive investigations spanning several school districts and states.
The charges involving four former students detail varied inappropriate conduct, including unseemly communications and acts within the schools where Gerald served. According to information gathered by the St. Louis County Police, the minor victims recounted exchanging inappropriate FaceTime, text messages, video calls for payment, and engaging in inappropriate sexual acts at school, a detail corroborated by WCNC Charlotte. In the aftermath of these findings, the Simon Law Firm and O'Brien Law Firm at a Tuesday press conference claimed they represent six victims from multiple districts, and they believe that Gerald's tenure in other districts, including those in North Carolina, may yield further revelations.
Attorney Mary Simon, in a statement obtained by First Alert 4, expressed profound concern over the trust placed in Gerald and the school districts' responsibilities. "The Riverview Gardens School District, along with any other institutions involved, must take responsibility and implement meaningful changes to prevent this from ever happening again," she stated. Her firm is probing into whether these districts correctly reported past issues and evaluating how prevention measures failed students.
The firm also urged any other victims, regardless of their location, to come forward. Meanwhile, personnel records from Gerald's time at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, where he served in various capacities for 13 years, showed no disciplinary actions, raising questions about the vigilance and oversight provided by his past employers.
