'She Is Broken': Suffolk Student Says She Was Sexually Assaulted In School

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — The mother of a Central Islip student is suing the district, claiming her daughter was sexually assaulted and bullied on school property.

The mother said her 16-year-old daughter, a special needs student, was bullied for years, attorney Kenneth Mollins told Patch. Patch does not identify victims in sexual abuse cases, and is not naming the mother to protect the daughter's identity.

The student was bullied so much, an aide shadowed her in middle school, Mollins said.

In high school, when she no longer had the aide, the bullying increased.

"It's very difficult to stop this type of thing from happening because they just don't have the security," Mollins said. "The mom spoke with administrators at the school a number of times about it."

On Oct. 31, Mollins said his client was walking in a hallway, on her way to use the restroom, when a super senior forced her into an empty classroom.

Only students in her grade were allowed in the hallway, but no teachers supervised it, he said.

"He sexually assaulted her, grabbing her and kissing her and things of that nature," said Mollins. "She was screaming him to get off, he didn't get off."

The girl called a friend on her cellphone right before the incident, he said, and the friend heard the whole encounter.

When she finally broke away, the girl ran down the hall to a security guard. Administrators told her not to tell anyone, he said.

"The administrator said, 'Do not touch your phone. Do not tell your mother about this. If you call, you're likely to be suspended'," Mollins said.

The friend on the phone heard the administrator say this, and proceeded to call the client's mother themselves. The mother went to the school and pulled her daughter out of classes, Mollins said.

The district did not report the attack to police, so the mother did. The super senior was later arrested and charged, he said. The case is now being handled by the Office of the Suffolk County District Attorney.

A Central Islip School District spokesperson told CBS New York: "The district is not providing commentary on the subject incident at this time."

Mollins told Patch that administrators continued to bully the girl as well.

When the client returned to school about a month later to take a Regents exam, she asked her teacher where she should sit, as she qualified to receive extra time.

The teacher then said in front of the whole class: "Just because you were sexually assaulted, doesn't give you the right to miss class."

Mollins said his client was "humiliated" and dejected.

"She is broken," he said. "She used to be a different kid."

This lawsuit comes two weeks after another Central Islip student said she was assaulted on school property. Her father filed a notice of claim, and is also represented by Mollins.

Similar to the claim notice, the lawsuit is more about justice than financial reasons, Mollins said.

"The purpose of the lawsuit is to effectuate change and get some help for these kids," Mollins said.

Patch has reached out to the Central Islip School District and the Office of the Suffolk County District Attorney for comment and more information.