Fox 43 has reported that a teacher was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a student at Chambersburg Area Senior High School located at 511 S 6th St, Chambersburg, PA 17201.
On Friday April 8, 2022 29 year old Benjamin A. Duran-Tobias was arrested and charged with multiple sexual offenses against a student. Duran-Tobias was a Chemistry teacher at the high school and has since been placed on administrative leave. Although details have not been releases, the teacher is facing charges for involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, institutional sexual assault, corruption of minors, unlawful contact with a minor, and indecent assault.
On Wednesday April 20, 2022, additional charges were brought against Duran-Tobias for separate incident. These new charges included the sexual abuse of children (child pornography) and corruption of minors.
Attorney contributor Guy D'Andrea has assisted sexual abuse victims and their families in Pennsylvania for years. As an experienced school sex abuse attorney, Brian shared his insight on the legal options available to victims sexually abused by a high school teacher.
"Schools have a critical role to play in safeguarding children during each school day. This responsibility involves keeping kids safe while they are on campus and during extracurricular activities. However, numerous high school students are victims of sex crimes on campus each year. Inappropriate touching, inappropriate remarks, and physical sexual assault are all examples of abuse. Schools and their administration have a legal obligation to implement a reasonable level of safety precautions to reduce the risks. Administrators should be aware of the potential for misconduct and know how to spot the indicators. Periodic background checks on school employees can help eliminate hiring some sexual predators, but they can slip through the cracks if reports of misconduct go unchecked. Without a strong commitment to preventing these behaviors, schools can be held liable if their safety measures were found lacking."
"Victims of sexual misconduct at a high school should seek legal advice from an experienced school sex abuse lawyer. Many circumstances can influence their potential case, including the expiration of their state's statutes of limitations. An experienced attorney will be familiar with these statutes and will know what evidence is required to determine if a school or school district was negligent. The victim's lawyer can prove that the abuse was foreseen by looking for past reports of misconduct that may have been ignored. A civil lawsuit may assist victims in receiving the compensation they rightfully deserve."