Lawsuit: 16-year-old was sexually assaulted at Central Islip HS, told to keep quiet by school administrators

This is the second lawsuit filed against the Central Islip Union Free School District in just a matter of weeks.

News 12 Staff

Apr 13, 2023, 9:28 PM

Updated 623 days ago

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A lawsuit alleges that a 16-year-old girl was sexually assaulted at Central Islip High School and that nobody from the district tried to help.
The suit claims that the victim was pulled into a dark classroom by a male student who was over 18. It says she was groped and forcibly kissed before she could pull herself away.
Kenneth Mollins, attorney for the victim's family, says the sexual assault happened on Oct. 31.
The suit claims school administrators told the victim not to tell her mother that the assault happened and alleges the girl was threatened with suspension if she did.
"This is a clear case of negligence," Mollins says. "There's no supervision. There's no response. There's no security."
The mother of the alleged sexual assault victim says the incident and bullying her daughter has endured has taken a terrible toll.
"My daughter has changed drastically," says Latasha Bennett. "She has no confidence. Her self-esteem is gone. She walks with her head down. She's just broken."
Suffolk County police say the suspected attacker was arrested. Mollins says that the suspect is in night school now, which is next to the alleged victim's house.
This is the second lawsuit filed against the Central Islip Union Free School District in just a matter of weeks.
Another suit claims a girl was attacked and punched from behind in a separate incident.
News 12 reached out to the Central Islip Union Free School District for comment, but they declined.