A former Holmes High School student abused by her teacher is suing the Covington Independent Public Schools district and 10 unnamed employees, alleging they failed to report or stop abusive conduct on campus.
She is also suing her convicted abuser, Mason Goins. Goins is currently serving out a seven year sentence at the Fulton County Detention Center, after pleading guilty to sex crimes charges including sexual abuse and promoting a sexual performance by a minor under 18.
According to a civil complaint filed in federal court on Sept. 3, the victim identified in the documents as “Jane Doe” is seeking damages for the alleged physical, psychological and emotional harm caused by Goins and the district’s alleged negligence.
The victim, who was 17 years old during the “inappropriate and sexually abusive relationship,” is seeking damages due to alleged “negligent failure to supervise, investigate, and report conduct that they knew, or in the exercise of reasonable care should have known, was occurring on school property and during school hours,” according to the lawsuit.
The district denies those allegations and others relating to the district’s knowledge of or failure to report abuse or an inappropriate relationship, according to an initial response filed Sept. 10.
The district declined LINK nky’s request for comment on the matter.
Details of the lawsuit
The lawsuit alleges the inappropriate sexually abusive relationship between Goins and the victim started in July 2024 and continued through March 12, 2025.
It also alleges the inappropriate relationship happened wholly or partially on Holmes High School premises, including Goins’ classroom, during school hours and during school-sponsored activities.
At least one or more administrators, faculty or staff are alleged to have been aware of the victim spending long periods of time in Goins’ classroom outside of class “without legitimate educational purpose and without adequate supervision,” according to the lawsuit. Goins was the victim’s social studies teacher the prior year, not during the window of abuse, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kenton County District Court in March 2025.
The Cincinnati Police Department arrested Goins on March 14, 2025, after the Covington Police Department obtained Goins’ phone following a report from Holmes High School’s former principal.
The phone contained Snapchat conversations between Goins and the victim dating back to 2024, according to the criminal complaint. It also contained nude photos and a video of the victim engaging in a sexual act. Goins admitted to knowing his former student was underage, according to that criminal complaint.
