Law firms say they are representing six victims of sexual abuse by former middle school principal

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Simon Law and O’Brien Law Firm announced in a press conference Tuesday that they are representing six total victims from different school districts who were sexually abused by former middle school principal Cedric Gerald.

Gerald, who has already been criminally charged with sexually abusing four students, recently worked as the principal for Westview Middle School in the Riverview Gardens School District.

The 48-year-old had been principal at Westview Middle School since 2023. Four students reported to police that he had inappropriate conduct with them or engaged in inappropriate behavior with them from Jan. 1, 2023, to May 14, 2025.

The students reported inappropriate FaceTimes, text messages, and video calls with Gerald, in exchange for payment and inappropriate sexual acts at school.

One of the victims told police Gerald exposed himself, and two others said he had inappropriate with them in a school bathroom.

According to St. Louis County Police, Gerald itted to several of those disclosures.

Gerald is now charged with sexual trafficking of a child, sexual exploitation of a minor, possession of child pornography, attempted statutory sodomy, sexual misconduct involving a child under 15, sexual with a student, harassment and two counts of statutory sodomy.

According to a release, his background in education dates back to when he served as a teacher and literacy coach in North Carolina at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District in 2000. After working there for 16 years, Gerald worked as a secondary curriculum specialist for Washington County Schools in Plymouth, North Carolina, before serving as the Ferguson-Florissant School District’s High School principal from July 2016 to October 2024.

Simon Law and O’Brien Law Firm attorneys are encouraging any other victims, even if they’re not in Missouri, to come forward at this time.

“It is deeply troubling that someone in a position of trust could take advantage of vulnerable children,” said Attorney Mary Simon. “The Riverview Gardens School District, along with any other institutions involved, must take responsibility and implement meaningful changes to prevent this from ever happening again.”

Simon Law added that it is looking into whether these districts properly reported prior issues, as well as how they failed to take action to protect students..

If you have any information about these crimes, the St. Louis County Police Department at 314-615-5400 as well as Simon Law at 314-241-2929 or the O’Brien Law Firm at 314-588-0558.

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