Former Jeopardy Champ and Brooklyn Private Teacher At Saint Ann’s School Winston Nguyen Arrested For Allegedly Asking Students To Send Him Sexually Explicit Images
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK (August 27, 2024) – A Brooklyn private school teacher at Saint Ann’s School identified as Winston Nguyen was arrested for allegedly asking minor students for nude images.
According to the New York Intelligencer, he has since been charged with 11 felony offenses. Prosecutors have made a number of allegations.
They have said that Nguyen posed as a student and fellow teen on Snapchat. He allegedly asked students at Saint Ann’s School for sexually explicit images.
Parents have expressed outrage after learning that Saint Ann’s School had full knowledge of the defendant’s criminal past. In particular, Winston Nguyen served a prison sentence for fraud long before he was hired.
There is also reporting that he had a long history of deception prior to his formal conviction. This includes allegations that he scammed numerous individuals, including roommates, friends, and his own family.
According to The Daily Beast, this episode has also highlighted other accusations against Saint Ann’s School. For example, the school is facing a wrongful death lawsuit for the death of a 13-year-old boy who died by suicide in May 2021.
Jeff Korek is a senior partner at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. and represents the boy’s family. According to Korek, the school’s modus operandi is “circle the ranks, circle the wagons, and less information is better than more information.”
He continued, “During the same school year, Saint Ann’s decided it was acceptable to hire someone with a criminal record who abused vulnerable people and put him into a situation among vulnerable kids—and that Ellis, a child with a great track record, was disposable. It makes no sense.”
Liability For Misconduct At New York Schools
Sexual abuse remains alarmingly common in schools across the United States. According to the National Education Association, “there were 14,938 incidents of sexual violence in K–12 schools in 2017 – 2018 compared with 9,649 in 2015 – 2016, representing a 55 percent increase.” Schools should take a number of different actions in order to prevent sexual abuse in their ranks.
- Schools should conduct a thorough background check on all teachers and school employees.
- Schools should develop and enforce a clear code of conduct on appropriate behavior.
- Schools should have clear reporting mechanisms for misconduct.
Schools have a legal obligation to protect children from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. To keep children safe, schools must supervise students at all times. They can be held liable for injuries resulting from a lack of supervision, including cases of sexual abuse. Consider, for example, Mirand v. City of New York, 84 N.Y.2d 44 (1994). Among other things, teachers are also obligated to report reasonably suspected instances of sexual abuse.
A school could also potentially be held liable for the suicide of a student in their care. In particular, a school can be held liable for the suicide of a student when they failed to properly supervise and address bullying that contributed to a student’s mental distress. Consider, for example, Maheshwari v. City of New York, 2 N.Y.3d 288 (2004). In order for a school to be liable, there must be a clear link between the school’s actions and the student’s decision. It is important that certain steps are taken after any instance of misconduct in a New York school.
- Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- The actions of school officials with respect to the incident should be understood.
- A thorough investigation should be conducted.
Sexual abuse and other forms of misconduct are highly preventable at schools. They tend to occur when schools value privacy and prestige over the safety of their students. In many situations, schools are afraid to take the necessary actions to address misconduct. It is important for both students and their parents to understand that they do have rights. A personal injury attorney can examine the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Misconduct At New York City Schools
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. were deeply concerned to hear about the actions of Winston Nguyen. This is just one of a number of disturbing incidents at Saint Ann’s School. School officials need to do the right thing and accept responsibility. Steps need to be taken to prevent anything like this from happening again.
Have you or someone that you care about been harmed at Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn? You may have legal recourse. Our law firm has experience handling cases against Saint Ann’s School. We are committed to advocating for victims and holding schools accountable for their wrongful actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
