Covington, VA - Gavin Haynes, a Teacher at Alleghany High School, Charged With 31 Counts of Sexual Contact With Minors

PE Teacher Arrested For Sexually Assaulting Minors

WSLS has reported that a PE teacher has been arrested for sexual misconduct while employed at Alleghany High School located at 210 Mountaineer Dr, Covington, VA 24426. 

On Tuesday, January 18, 2022, 35-year-old Gavin Haynes was arrested and charged with 31 felony charges of sexual contact involving minors. The school was made aware of the allegations on January 21, 2021. Haynes was put on administrative leave at that time. The abuse was said to have occurred as far back as June 2010. 

He has served the high school in many roles, including a PE coach, Sports Exercise and Health Science teacher, Advanced PE and Weightlifting teacher, the JV boys basketball head coach, the JV baseball head coach, and an assistant varsity football coach. He has been formally charged with 31 counts of taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial or supervisory relationship.

Can a High School Be Liable For Sexual Abuse?

Attorney contributor Kevin Biniazan represents sex abuse victims and their families in civil lawsuits. As an experienced school sex abuse victim lawyer, Kevin explained when a school might be liable for sexual abuse on a high school campus.

"Students are being subjected to all forms of sexual misconduct while on school campuses at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, the role of the school to provide a safe and healthy learning environment has been found lacking across the nation. It is the legal responsibility of these schools and districts to ensure their students are safe from preventable dangers like sexual abuse. Due to gaps in school safety, predators gain employment in fields with direct access to children. When schools fail to implement preventative security measures, such as background checks, on-campus resource officers, and surveillance cameras, they make way for abuse to occur."

"If a teacher or coach is charged with sex crimes involving a minor, it is essential to determine if the abuse was preventable and if it happened due to the school's negligence. If a school is found to have ignored past reports of misconduct by the coach or teacher, they can be held liable. In cases of negligence, school sexual abuse victims may have reasons to file a lawsuit against any negligent third party. Victims and their families can learn more about their legal options by discussing their case with an experienced sex abuse victim lawyer."

Sources:

WSLS