October 24, 2025 - by Herman Law
New records obtained by Newsday through a Freedom of Information Law request reveal that the Babylon School District received at least three misconduct allegations against former teacher Timothy Harrison, including a 2017 complaint about “extremely disturbing” conduct, years before he admitted to sexually abusing a 15-year-old student.
According to letters from Suffolk County prosecutors, Babylon school officials knew about troubling allegations against Harrison as early as 2017, yet he remained in the classroom until 2021. One parent’s 2017 report described Harrison’s conduct with their daughter as “extremely disturbing,” raising questions about why the district failed to take decisive action.
In 2013, Harrison used his position as a special education teacher and girls’ lacrosse, basketball, and soccer coach to groom and abuse a 15-year-old student. Prosecutors revealed that Harrison sent the victim flirtatious text messages, provided her with alcohol, and engaged in sexual intercourse with her on multiple occasions at his Oak Beach home.
The victim courageously came forward in 2021 after hearing other survivors speak at a school board meeting. Harrison was arrested in March 2022 and initially faced multiple felony charges including two counts of third-degree rape and two counts of third-degree criminal sexual act.
In September 2023, Harrison pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child as part of a plea agreement. He was sentenced to three years of probation in November 2023 and was required to surrender his teaching license permanently.
Harrison’s case emerged during a broader reckoning at Babylon High School. In November 2021, more than 20 alumni publicly shared stories of sexual and emotional abuse by multiple teachers and coaches at a packed school board meeting. Many described the abuse as an “open secret” that school administrators ignored for years.
Following the meeting, five school employees were placed on administrative leave, and New York Attorney General Letitia James launched a civil investigation into the district. Former Board of Education member Linda Scordino alleged that when she tried to report abuse concerns, officials told her she “wasn’t playing ball” and warned her to “keep your mouth shut or you’ll ruin our real estate values.”
The Babylon case demonstrates how institutional silence enables predators to continue harming children. When school officials fail to act on credible complaints, they create opportunities for ongoing abuse and betray their fundamental duty to protect students.
At Herman Law, we exclusively represent survivors of sexual abuse in schools, churches, foster care, and other institutions. Civil litigation can provide:
If you experienced sexual abuse at Babylon High School or another institution, you may have legal options. Many survivors don’t realize they can pursue civil claims even years after the abuse occurred.
Contact Herman Law today for a free, confidential consultation with our team. When you’re ready to talk, we’re here to listen.
Sources
Newsday. (2025, October 16). A parent reported a Babylon teacher’s “extremely disturbing” conduct with their daughter to the school district in 2017. https://www.newsday.com/long-island/investigations/babylon-teacher-misconduct-ocwr0vz6
Patch. (2022, August 25). Former BOE head says LI superintendent knew about abuse reports. https://patch.com/new-york/babylonvillage/former-boe-head-says-li-superintendent-knew-abuse-reports
Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. (2023, November 27). Former Babylon High School teacher sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to endangering the welfare of a child. https://www.suffolkcountyda.org/former-babylon-high-school-teacher-sentenced-to-probation-after-pleading-guilty-to-endangering-the-welfare-of-a-child/
The Daily Beast. (2024, September 19). Babylon High School student accusers detail years of alleged sexual abuse, misconduct by teachers, coaches. https://www.thedailybeast.com/babylon-high-school-student-accusers-detail-years-of-sexual-abuse-misconduct-by-teachers-coaches/
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by an attorney at Herman Law, with legal experience in helping victims of sexual abuse.
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