Mineola, NY - Mineola Middle School Teacher Accused of Sexual Assault

Teacher at Mineola Middle School Under Investigation after Sexual Assault Allegations Surfaced

According to ABC 7, a Mineola Middle School teacher was dismissed as he is investigated for sexually inappropriate behavior.

Students allege that the abuse by this teacher went on for years. One of the students said the teacher was “know as the rapist,” reported ABC 7. Students started a petition saying the teacher has sexually assaulted multiple female students.

One of the victims, a former student, alleged in the petition that the Mineola Middle School teacher offered to buy students food, and in return, they would sit on him while he laid on a bed of nails. The former student said both girls and boys would sit on his stomach, legs, waist, and face to see if they could pin him down. Additional former students began to leave comments on the petition reporting similar claims.

The teacher has not yet been named as he does not currently face any criminal charges. He has been placed on leave as an investigation is being conducted.

Legal Options for Victims and Their Families Sexually Abused by a Teacher

Attorney contributor Laurence Banville, an experienced sexual assault lawyer, has represented numerous victims of sexual abuse. In an interview, we asked Laurence to share his insight on the legal options of victims sexually abused by a teacher to help victims determine their legal rights.

“Unfortunately, we have seen numerous cases of sexual assault across the country. Often sexual predators place themselves in positions of power in schools to exploit their power and trust over students. Schools must do their best to protect students; it is their legal obligation. To ensure safety, schools should implement security measures, such as misconduct reporting systems, cameras, and guards.”

“If a school does not provide adequate safety measures and abuse occurs, a school may be considered liable. A school would be considered liable in sexual abuse cases due to negligence. An example of negligence is if the administration was aware of misconduct and did not properly investigate the situation. Victims sexually assaulted by a teacher should secure the services of an experienced sexual abuse attorney to determine whether their case involves negligence. In such cases, victims may have grounds for a civil lawsuit against the school.”

Sources:

ABC 7