Former Indiana teacher charged with neglect following lawsuit over ‘fight club’ video

Charges have been filed against a former Indiana teacher who allegedly encouraged students to beat up another student, whose mother is now suing the school district.

Julious Johnican, who previously taught at Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), faces charges of neglect of a dependent following an investigation by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

The investigation, sparked by a lawsuit filed by the mother of the victim, revealed at least three incidents where Johnican allegedly allowed students to hit the student, referred to as O.D., including one incident the teacher recorded on video, which has gone viral online.

“As parents, we place trust in our teachers and the adults in power to keep our children safe and there should be serious consequences when they fail to meet that standard and engage in or encourage dangerous behavior,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a statement on Wednesday. 

In the video, Johnican can be heard encouraging a student as he repeatedly punches O.D.

“You guys done?” the teacher is heard asking the students in the video. “That’s right. You get him.” 

According to the affidavit, O.D.’s mother believes the attack on the video occurred in late September.  

An IPS official reportedly told police that O.D. had a history of behavioral issues, including hitting other children. 

The official also claimed Johnican recorded the video with the intent that “if the parents were to see what their child was actually doing to other children maybe they would come in and help.”  

However, the official later admitted that Johnican should not have recorded the students in the first place. 

O.D.’s mother, on the other hand, told police that she had been actively involved and had multiple discussions with Johnican about his behavior. 

In response to the lawsuit and the resulting outcry from parents, IPS has initiated several changes to address the concerns about the school’s environment and communication failures, Chalkbeat reported.  

Superintendent Aleesia Johnson expressed her dismay following the lawsuit’s revelations, describing the video as “appalling and disturbing.”  

“When a parent sends their child to school, it is with the understanding and expectation that school staff will do all they can to keep their child safe, both physically and emotionally,” Johnson said, according to Chalkbeat.