NBCNewYork has reported that a Long Island high school teacher has been charged with raping a former student at Babylon High School, located at 50 Railroad Ave, Babylon, NY 11702.
On Wednesday, Anjalih 23, 2022, 46-year-old Timothy Harrison was indicted on multiple felony counts of rape and criminal sexual acts against a former student. The abuse was said to have occurred in October and November of 2013, when Harrison invited the 15-year-old student to his house, gave her alcohol, and engaged in sexual intercourse with her on at least two occasions. The special education teacher allegedly groomed the child through texts before driving her to his home.
Harrison has two teen children and has been married for 17 years. He is facing five sexual assault charges, including one for endangering the welfare of a child and two felony counts of third-degree rape and third-degree criminal sexual act. If found guilty, he could do 16 years in prison. He is currently suspended from the school as the investigation continues.
Attorney contributor Laurence Banville works with victims of sexual assault and their families in New York. He fights to ensure they receive the justice they deserve. As an experienced school sex abuse lawyer, Laurence recently discussed when a high school could be held accountable if a high school teacher sexually assaults a student.
"Each school day, school authorities take on the responsibility of parenting the children attending their school. This legal obligation includes protecting them from avoidable threats like sexual assault. Unfortunately, numerous allegations have surfaced of middle school teachers and other school staff being arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting young children. Sexual misconduct and abuse can range from indecent behavior or conversations to physical assault. To prevent abuse from occurring in the first place, school administrators must be aware of the hazards and recognize the indicators. Extensive background checks on each employee can help prevent the hiring of known sexual predators, but they frequently slip through the cracks when reports of misconduct are ignored. School officials should adhere to their moral and legal commitment to preventing this abuse, or they may be held accountable."
"Students who a high school teacher has sexually abused should get legal advice from an experienced school sex abuse attorney. A lawsuit can be a complex process to navigate. State statutes will be understood by experienced attorneys, as well as how to prove the school or school district was negligent. By researching any earlier reports of misconduct that may have been neglected, the victim's attorney will create a case to prove that the abuse was foreseeable. Victims of negligence might be eligible to file a civil lawsuit to receive the compensation they deserve in circumstances of school safety negligence."