BABYLON, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — New York Attorney General Letitia James on Tuesday announced her office is launching an investigation into the Babylon School District over allegations of widespread sexual abuse and misconduct.
“Every student on Long Island and across New York deserves to feel safe and protected at school. The reports of sexual abuse of students at the hands of their teachers and coaches are troubling and must be investigated,” James said in a statement.
The announcement from James came one week after the school district hired a former Suffolk County assistant prosecutor to investigate allegations of past teacher sexual misconduct.
“My office is launching an investigation into the Babylon School District over these disturbing allegations,” James said. “The safety and wellbeing of students — both past and present — is of utmost importance, and we will do everything in our power to protect their right to a safe learning environment.”
More than 20 former students at the Long Island high school accused teachers of sexual misconduct, according to a New York Post report.
The first to come forward was former student Brittany Rohl, now 28, who accused a teacher of grooming her for a sexual relationship from the age of 16, according to the report.
The Post reported she detailed the allegations against the former teacher in-person at a school board meeting last week, where she was joined by several others who shared their own experiences.
Two women who have come forward with allegations, Barbara Maier and Darcy Bennet, are pleased that James has opened up an investigation.
"I initially came forward when I was 16 years old and I wasn't taken seriously and now I'm 30 years old coming back to the place where I was traumatized. It's always kind of like a slap in the face to see the school," said Bennet, who graduated from Babylon High School in 2009. "This is the worst kept secret in Babylon that has been going on for decades and it's time for everyone to stand up and make a change."
"Once I put my story out there I had like a sense of relief but also like a fire lit in me, I am determined to fix this not just for my daughter, it's for every student," said 31-year-old Maier, who graduated in 2008. "No child should have to be warned about teachers who routinely prey on their students and no child should feel like they're alone in this."
Suffolk Police told Newsday that the department’s Special Victims Unit have been in contact with Babylon School District officials since the school board meeting.
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“Since that meeting, no individual has come forward to make a complaint with police,” the department told the paper on Monday.
However, Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini and the Police Department are urging victims to come forward to assist in the investigation.
“The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the Suffolk County Police Department are continuing to actively investigate the ongoing allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct that occurred at the Babylon School District,” the departments said in a statement. “The District Attorney’s Office and Police Department advise any person that believes he or she was the victim of a crime to contact the Suffolk County Police Department’s Special Victims Section at 631-852-6167.”
The school district has moved to place five employees on paid leave, pending the outcome of the investigations, Newsday reported.
Rohl came forward with her allegations when another employee was placed on leave in late October after “disturbing allegations” were made public, according to the paper.
The school district issued a statement Tuesday saying, "The Babylon School District has received a series of reports relating to current and former staff members. The reports are being fully investigated. The Babylon School District has assured law enforcement, the New York State Attorney General’s Office, and the New York State Department of Education of the district’s full cooperation with any, and all investigations they undertake."
The district said it has also been in contact with Laura Ahearn of the Crime Victims Center "to provide direct services to victims and to provide additional training to the Babylon School District staff and students."
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone applauded the attorney general for launching an investigation.
"I am confident that the Attorney General will uncover the truth and demand accountability," Bellone said in a statement. “I am in awe of the courageous individuals who have come forward, both former and current students, to tell their stories. Their allegations must be thoroughly investigated and I'mconfident that will now happen with the Attorney General's investigation."