Teacher Sentenced to Two Years for Orchestrating Classroom 'Fight Club'

Julious Johnican, 25, a former teacher at George Washington Carver Montessori Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) School 87, was sentenced on September 24 to two years in the Indiana Department of Correction. He had previously pleaded guilty on August 4 to charges stemming from an investigation into a classroom 'fight club.'

The case gained attention following the discovery of cellphone footage that allegedly captured a seven-year-old boy being assaulted by another student while Johnican stood by and encouraged the attack. The boy's family attorneys reported that the footage was inadvertently shown to the boy's parents during a parent-teacher conference when Johnican attempted to display a different video.

According to a civil lawsuit filed by the family, Johnican's voice could be heard on the recording prompting the assault, with the boy crying and the attacking child saying, 'don’t mess with me.' Johnican allegedly urged the beating onward by asking, 'Are you done yet?' before eventually telling the children to return to their places.

Attorneys for the family allege that the incident was not isolated and that Johnican orchestrated a 'fight club-type of discipline' over approximately three months. The lawsuit claims that on two other occasions, Johnican restrained the seven-year-old boy while other students attacked him. This disciplinary method was allegedly used despite the boy having disabilities, including sensory sensitivities and an executive-function disorder.

The boy's mother reported that her son frequently came home from school distressed and claimed he was being abused and bullied. She raised these concerns with school staff and Johnican on multiple occasions, but the teacher allegedly dismissed the claims as behavioral issues, suggesting the child was lying or mentally ill.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears stated that Johnican abused the trust placed in him and subjected vulnerable children to harm. 'Schools are supposed to be safe spaces where children can learn, grow and feel protected,' Mears said in a statement. 'The defendant abused the trust placed in him as an educator and subjected vulnerable children to the unthinkable. Today’s sentence holds him accountable for that betrayal of trust and the harm he caused.'

However, one of the boy's attorneys, Tammy Meyer, expressed concern that Johnican may not fully grasp the gravity of his actions. The investigation also encountered an alternative explanation for the recording, with a paralegal suggesting Johnican filmed the incident to show the boy's parents their son's alleged behavioral problems. The family's attorneys disputed this, questioning why investigators relied on a paralegal instead of school officials directly involved with the child.

A criminal investigation and a civil lawsuit were prompted by the allegations. The lawsuit names IPS, Superintendent Johnson, the school's principal and vice principal, a behavioral consultant, a substitute teacher, and Johnican. It alleges that school officials failed to protect the boy despite repeated concerns voiced by his mother. Indianapolis Public Schools confirmed that Johnican resigned before the district could terminate his employment. Superintendent Johnson described the footage as 'appalling and disturbing' and announced reviews of district policies and protocols, including an external review for additional safeguards. The boy's mother has called for broader reforms to enhance student safety in Indiana schools.