A lawsuit filed Wednesday on behalf of a 12-year-old alleges that the Missouri Military Academy, an all-boys boarding school in Mexico, enabled the sexual abuse of minors, including the plaintiff, by other cadets at the academy.
The lawsuit, filed in Audrain County, names the Missouri Military Academy as a defendant.
The Missouri Military Academy is a private college preparatory school for seventh through 12th grade boys, according to its website. The school has both boarding and day school options.
The lawsuit describes allegations of the repeated sexual assault of the 12-year-old plaintiff by his roommate in their room, arguing that negligence by the academy allowed the incidents to happen. The lawsuit alleges the incidents happened in early September 2025.
"The twelve-year-old Plaintiff endured four traumatic, sleepless nights of unspeakable, egregious acts of sexual violence, the severity and depravity of which transcend ordinary description which have left him with lasting physical, emotional, and psychological scars," the lawsuit said.
To build its case, the lawsuit cites investigations dating back to 2020 that the Mexico Public Safety Department conducted related to allegations of assault and sexual harassment by cadets at the academy. It lists 17 investigations between 2020 and 2024, which was before the plaintiff enrolled at the academy, according to the lawsuit.
"By failing or refusing to resolve its systemic organizational problems, Defendant MMA fostered a dangerous unregulated environment in which minor cadets were left exposed to persistent abuse at the hands of their peers," the 17-page lawsuit said.
Missouri Military Academy President Richard V. Geraci defended the academy in a Friday statement to KOMU 8 News.
"At Missouri Military Academy, the safety and well-being of our cadets are our highest priorities. The allegations in the lawsuit are unsubstantiated and without merit," MMA President Richard V. Geraci said in the statement.
"Upon becoming aware of any alleged incident of misconduct, we immediately initiate an investigation in accordance with our established procedures and notify parents," Geraci continued. "As necessary, we involve appropriate outside agencies. At no point has any evidence suggested wrongdoing by MMA, as the lawsuit alleges."
The Missouri Military Academy cadet handbook contains policies prohibiting hazing, bullying, sexual assault and sexual misconduct and directs cadets to report instances to commandant, academic or health center staff.
The handbook also outlines the process by which certain concerns and serious breaches of conduct, including sexual assault and harassment, will be investigated. Upon receiving a report, a commandant will first determine whether an investigation is appropriate, and if so, an investigator will be assigned. The commandant will oversee the investigation and preparation of the results and recommendations, according to the handbook. Results of an investigation will be provided to the commandant for decision and actions, according to the handbook.
The lawsuit alleges two counts against the Missouri Military Academy: negligence and negligent supervision. The lawsuit alleges the layout of rooms in the academy's residence halls, the supervision of cadets in their rooms, the academy's policies surrounding technology use and the academy's disciplinary measures failed to protect the plaintiff against sexual abuse.
Geraci said Missouri Military Academy "intends to vigorously defend" the matter.
"We are proud of the education we provide to the young men accepted into our Academy," Geraci said in the statement. "That education is grounded in our core values of respect, honor and integrity."
The petition requests a jury trial and asks the jury to award the plaintiff at least $25,000 in damages on each count.