Sexual Abuse Survivor Sees Victory in the Courtroom
“This triumph of truth and justice is because of the courage of the survivor, who spoke up and brought a civil suit against Abdul Wright and Best Academy and testified with courage and grace. Children are safer because of the bravery of Doe 605,” – Jeff Anderson
“The civil suit and report to law enforcement triggered the long overdue removal of Abdul and Eric Mahmoud as head of Best Academy who had been under fire and scrutiny for protecting Wright and serial offender Aaron Hjermstad, who is now serving a life sentence.” – Jeff Anderson
(Saint Paul, MN) – Today, in Hennepin County District Court, Abdul Wright, a former youth teacher at Best Academy in Minneapolis, has been found guilty of sexually abusing a female student in 2017. Wright worked at the school for over a decade, and later taught English at St. Louis Park High School. Judge Sarah West delivered her verdict from the bench at a hearing this afternoon.
“Doe 605 chose to use her voice to courageously expose Abdul Wright’s violations, protect others from his harm and unveil Best Academy’s failures.” – Molly Burke, attorney
Background on Abdul Wright
In March 2025, we filed a lawsuit on behalf of Doe 605 against Best Academy Charter School and Abdul Wright.
From 2016 to 2017, Wright used his position of power to target, groom, and engage in countless boundary violations of Doe 605. Wright took Doe 605 to Timberwolves games, commented on her clothes and body, singled her out and gave her special tasks and responsibilities in the classroom. By engaging in this targeted grooming Doe 605, he manipulated Doe 605 and her family, which ultimately led to Wright’s repeated sexual abuse of Doe 605.
In the summer of 2017, Doe 605’s parents discovered an alarming number of phone calls and text messages between Wright and Doe 605—most of which occurred in the late evening or early morning. Doe 605’s father requested an in-person meeting with Eric Mahmoud, the founder of Best Academy, and Wright to discuss how the communication between Wright and Doe 605 went far beyond a student/teacher relationship. Neither Mahmoud nor Wright provided an explanation for the worrying communication.