Michigan Democrat Barb Byrum used ‘political influence’ in order to get son back into school after he was accused of sexual assault by another student, lawsuit alleges

A district clerk used her “political influence” to have her son reinstated in his Michigan public school district after he was expelled for allegedly sexually assaulting another student, a lawsuit alleges.

The alleged victim’s mother filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum and her husband Brad Delaney after their son was readmitted to the Mason Public School District last fall.

The lawsuit, reviewed by MailOnline, accuses Byrum and Delaney, a detective sergeant in the county sheriff’s office, of “acting from their unique position of power” to conspire with the district and school board.

The complaint does not specify how the couple allegedly used their positions to influence officials, but says the school district acted “indifferently” when it came to the alleged victim and the decision to reinstate the boy.

The alleged attack occurred in May 2022 at Mason Middle School, where both students were in eighth grade, the lawsuit said. The boy was accused of “digital penetration” against a female student and was expelled from school before his ninth grade year following a Title IX investigation. A contact ban was also introduced.

Byrum, a Democrat, is serving her third term as county clerk and served as a state representative before being elected in 2013.

The Title IX investigation found that Byrum and Delaney’s son violated the school district’s policy prohibiting sexual assault when he allegedly put his hand down a female student’s pants during class, the complaint said.

The boy reportedly ignored her attempts to push him away and only stopped touching her when the class ended. The lawsuit claims he tried to assault her again a few days later in another classroom.

Other classmates interviewed in connection with the accusation confirmed parts of the girl’s allegations, according to the complaint.

Mason police investigated the incident in May 2022 but “never spoke” with the boy, who was not charged. The alleged victim was granted a personal protection order against him that summer.

The Title IX investigation recommended expelling the boy and he was expelled from the district for the 2022-2023 academic year.

But the lawsuit claims the two youths have now been “reinstated into the exact same public school district” after the boy’s parents successfully summoned district officials.

The girl repeatedly complained about seeing her alleged attacker in the hallways, at lunch and during extracurricular activities, according to the suit — which names the district, Mason High School Principal Lance Delbridge, Assistant Principal Nicholas Toodzio, Byrum and Delaney as suspects are named.

Her family claimed she has suffered “significant distress” as a result of his reassignment, which has negatively impacted her grades and harmed her educational opportunities.

“It is very traumatic and something that could stay with her forever,” Brandon Wolfe, who represents the alleged victim’s family, wrote in the lawsuit. “We want justice.”

He added that for the victim, “every day is a constant reminder of having been sexually abused” and the “mental anguish that results from it.”

He further argued that the “consistent contact” between the girl and her alleged attacker was the personal protection order, which was not reinstated until January 24 this year.

Michigan Department of Education policy states that students expelled for any reason may petition the school board for readmission after 150 days.

Boards that allow students to be reinstated can add conditions to the reinstatement. According to the lawsuit, in the case of Byrum and Delaney’s son, a restraining order was issued between the boy and his accuser.

Wolfe, in conversation with the Lansing Gazette claims last week that his clients were not aware the recovery process was underway until after the board made its decision.

Michigan law does not require that the girl be notified of the boy’s rehoming.

MailOnline has contacted Byrum, Delaney, Delbridge, Toodzio and Wolfe for comment.