This story has been updated to remove the name of the plaintiff who was a minor at the time of the alleged abuse.

A teen who alleges she was sexually abused by a physical education teacher at Hillcrest Middle School for more than two years has sued the Greenville County school district.

The lawsuit says the victim was sexually and emotionally abused by Meghan Colleen Dougherty from 2014 to 2016 and seeks unspecified damages for medical expenses and "severe emotional distress." It was filed April 24.

The district responded to the allegations this week, denying any wrongdoing in court documents.

Dougherty was arrested by Simpsonville police in March 2015 and charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor. According to the school district, Dougherty resigned on March 26, 2015, when school principal Kelli Farmer confronted her about allegations of an inappropriate relationship with an eighth-grade student.

Dougherty was 36 at the time.

The Greenville News attempted to reach Dougherty at a phone number associated with her name, but the number has been disconnected. Dougherty isn't named as a defendant in the suit.

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The suit states that Greenville County Schools was aware of "prior instances concerning improper behavior concerning Dougherty" and that the district failed to properly investigate Dougherty when she was hired.

In its response, the district says any alleged injury sustained by the victim "was due to the intervening, independent and intentional criminal act of a third person ... for which Defendant is not liable."

Greenville County Schools spokeswoman Beth Brotherton said Dougherty's employment ended immediately after the district received information that she had been accused of inappropriate conduct.

"All GCS employees undergo thorough background checks when hired and receive regular training on proper conduct toward students," Brotherton said in an email. "GCS would never allow a teacher to remain in the classroom when there is evidence of sexual misconduct."

Dougherty taught physical education and coached girls volleyball, soccer and intramural sports from 2012 to 2014, according to the district. She hadn't worked at any other district school prior to that, a district spokeswoman said.

The victim and her father are named as the plaintiffs in the suit. Their attorney, Joshua Kendrick of Greenville, said his client wanted to disclose her name in the complaint so “it wasn’t as anonymous.”

“I think it shows a lot about her,” Kendrick said.

The Greenville News doesn't typically identify victims and alleged victims of sexual assault, especially in cases involving minors.

The victim's father declined to comment and referred questions to his attorney.

Court records show Dougherty was charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the March 2015 case.

While out on bond, authorities accused Dougherty of sexually assaulting the same victim at a home in Greer. Dougherty was charged with two additional counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a minor and intimidation of a court witness in May 2016, according to court records.

Warrants from the second arrest allege Dougherty committed sexually battery by kissing and digitally penetrating the victim.

Dougherty's former defense attorney, William Bouton, declined to comment when reached by The News.

Records show Dougherty pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor in July 2017. A judge sentenced her to 10 years in prison suspended to three years with five years' probation. She was released on parole in February 2018, according to court documents.