Dayton school aide fired over abuse allegations

Aide denied allegation that he sexually abused a student in 1990.

Dayton’s school board voted Wednesday to fire a classroom aide who was accused by a former Dayton Public Schools student of sexually abusing him aback in 1990.

Ajilon “Bobo” Harmon, whose most recent district job was a paraprofessional at Longfellow School, had been on administrative leave since January 2016. That’s when the former Dunbar High School student repeated allegations he first made in 2007, that Harmon supplied him alcohol, photographed him nude, then sexually assaulted him at his home in 1990.

Harmon has not been charged with any crime in connection with this complaint. The former student reported the alleged abuse to Dayton Police in 2007, but their records show only an original report and an assignment to a detective.

However, DPS’ internal investigation, run by the district’s executive director of safety and security, found that the former student was “credible and truthful” about the abuse claim, a copy of the report shows.

According to DPS records, Harmon argued in his April 12 hearing that the former student had never been to his house. His attorney said if the allegations were true, the former student wouldn’t have waited 17 years to come forward.

But DPS attorney Jyllian Bradshaw wrote that the evidence at the hearing confirmed that Harmon violated school board policy on engaging in immoral conduct, and recommended that he be fired.

RELATED: Former coach/aide had sex with student

School board members did not comment on the case at Wednesday’s board meeting. Superintendent Rhonda Corr also did not comment, but said earlier this year that DPS should have done more to address the complaint in 2007.

Reached by phone Wednesday night, Harmon declined comment and referred questions to his attorney.

This newspaper has asked Dayton Police repeatedly what the outcome of their investigation was. A police spokeswoman said Wednesday that she has not yet received an answer from department officials.

Bradshaw said Harmon has a few appeal options. She added that DPS is not in regular contact with Dayton Police about the case, saying the school district is not constrained by a statute of limitations like police are.

“As an employer we have a little more flexibility, and because we work with students, we take these allegations very seriously,” she said.

About the Author