The families of three children, ages seven to 11, have filed lawsuits against Green Charter School of the Midlands and the South Carolina Public Charter School District, alleging the students were targeted, exploited and sexually abused by a school employee. 

The victims’ families are represented by attorneys Bakari Sellers, Matthew Robins and James B. Moore III. 

According to the media release, school employee Sulaymaan Benoit sexually abused the children while they attended the after-school program. 

The filings claim the school and district failed to protect the victims and exhibited a “pattern and practice of deliberate indifference toward sexual assault.” They further allege other employees, including principal Tina Shaw, were aware of the abuse and did not report it.

Shaw was arrested Feb. 26, 20225, and charged with failure to report child abuse. Benoit was charged last month with first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor under 11.

The abuse includes unwanted touching and groping to forced oral sex and accuse Shaw and other officials of repeatedly ignoring warnings.

“It’s very clear. This school and this district have demonstrated a clear pattern and practice of deliberate indifference towards sexual assault,” Robins said. “That indifference paved the way for a predator like Sulaymaan Benoit to repeatedly sexually assault these children and they should be held accountable.”

Following the arrests, Green Charter’s Executive Director Tom Cronin defended Shaw in a letter to parents, writing that “Dr. Shaw has proved herself to be an outstanding leader who cares deeply about our students.”

Attorneys also argue South Carolina Public Charter School District, which sponsors the school, is liable. 

“These children are going to have to live with this the rest of their lives,” Sellers said in the news release. “They are going to carry these scars forever and to let Green and the South Carolina Public Charter School District wash their hands would be the worst kind of cover up.”

“The simple truth is that Green Charter School knew this was happening,” Moore said.  “They knew their students were being sexually assaulted and they didn’t call the police. That’s not just immoral. It’s illegal.”

Benoit appeared in court for additional charges during a bond hearing on Nov. 19, according to a press release.