Girl Sexually Assaulted By Security Guard At Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park
FLORAL PARK, NEW YORK (December 10, 2019) – A security guard for Sewanhaka High School has been arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl from the school.
The 22-year-old security guard reportedly sexually assaulted the female student several times between June 2019 to October 2019. The suspect has since been arrested and charged with first-degree criminal sexual act.
It remains unclear if the 15-year-old girl at Sewanhaka High School was the only victim. Authorities are asking the public for help with the investigation.
Any person that may have knowledge related to the arrest should call Nassau County’s Special Victim Squad detectives at 516-573-4022.
Liability In Sexual Assaults At Sewanhaka High School
Sexual assault remains a major problem at high schools and universities across the country. But far too often these assaults are either ignored or under-reported by schools. According to the American Association of University Women (AAUW), “More than three-fourths (79 percent) of the 48,000 public schools with students in grades 7 through 12 disclosed zero reported allegations of harassment or bullying on the basis of sex. These numbers do not square with what research shows students experience. Far more students experience sexual harassment than schools report in the CRDC. This is a cause for concern.” There are a number of measures that can be taken to help prevent instances of sexual assault:
- School faculty should be properly vetted before employment and monitored after employment
- Children should be trained on sexual violence prevention
- School faculty should be trained to look for signs of sexual abuse and harassment
- Instances of sexual assault or harassment should be properly reported
Schools have a legal responsibility to provide students and faculty with a reasonably safe environment. This includes taking measures to protect students from sexual assault. For example, schools may be liable for a sexual assault if they failed to properly supervise staff members who them harmed children. They may also be liable for failing to properly vet staff members. It’s important that evidence is properly preserved and collected after any incident.
Victims of sexual assault are often left with very serious psychological trauma. According to Very Well Mind, victims of sexual assault may develop PTSD and experience “nightmares or intrusive thoughts and memories […]. They might feel as though they are always in danger or need to always be on guard, and may distrust other people.” Any person that is a victim of sexual assault involving school faculty may be able to seek justice through civil claim. A personal injury attorney can examine all of the facts of your case free of cost and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Sexual Assaults At Sewanhaka High School
We at Pulvers, Pulvers & Thompson extend our thoughts and prayers to the victim of this horrific incident at Sewanhaka High School. Any person that may have knowledge about this crime or the suspect should reach out to Nassau County’s Special Victim Squad detectives at 516-573-4022. It is our sincere hope that measures are put in place to help prevent additional incidents like this. Schools must be doing everything in their power to help keep students safe.
