Winston Nguyen, Former Jeopardy Winner and Teacher At Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn, Arrested For Allegedly Soliciting Sexually Explicit Images of Children
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK (October 4, 2024) – A 37-year-old teacher at Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn identified as Winston Nguyen was arrested for soliciting child sex abuse material.
New York City officials are saying that the defendant was arrested in front of students last month. Authorities have made a number of allegations against Winston Nguyen.
Among other things, they claim that he pretended to be a fellow student on social media to convince teenage students to send him nude images.
These incidents allegedly took place 11 times between October 2022 and May 2024. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
A number of teachers at Saint Ann’s School have been accused of sexual misconduct over the years. According to The Cut, “In a Monday letter, the school stated that six male former faculty members were found to have engaged in “sexual misconduct or serious boundary violations” in the 1970s and late ‘90s.”
Jeff Korek is a senior partner at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. and represents the family of a boy who died by suicide in 2021. 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 New York City Teacher Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse remains alarmingly common across the United States. According to Sage Journals, “Educator sexual misconduct is a serious problem in the United States (U.S.), with a 2004 Department of Education report estimating that 9.6% of K-12 students in the U.S. had experienced either verbal, visual, or physical educator misconduct at some point during their school career.” Schools should take a number of measures in order to protect students from sexual abuse.
- All school employees should undergo a thorough background check.
- Schools should understand the factors that contribute to sexual victimization and predation.
- Schools should develop and enforce clear codes of conduct with respect to sexual abuse and misconduct.
Schools have a legal obligation to protect students from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. This includes protecting them from sexual abuse. If school officials knew (or should have known) that a teacher posed a risk to students and failed to act, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Many lawsuits against schools are based on the legal theory that the abusing teacher was negligently hired or retained. There are several elements that must be demonstrated in any negligent retention case.
- The teacher involved was unfit for their job.
- The teacher’s employer knew (or should have known) that they posed a substantial risk of harm to students.
- The teacher’s unfitness is what caused harm to their students.
- The teacher’s negligent hiring, supervision, or training was a significant factor in causing a student’s harm.
The vast majority of sexual abuse that takes place in a school setting is preventable. Indeed, by the time any teacher is arrested for sexual abuse, there are often dozens of red flags that are missed. It is important that victims of teacher sexual abuse understand that they do have rights. They are able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim. A teacher sexual abuse attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating New York City Teacher Sexual Abuse
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our best wishes to all of the people who have been impacted by the actions of Winston Nguyen. There needs to be a thorough investigation into all of the allegations that have been made. It is our sincere hope that measures are taken to prevent other instances like this.
Have you or someone that you care about been impacted by teacher sexual abuse at Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn? Our team of teacher sexual abuse attorneys is here for you. We care deeply that victims of sexual abuse are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. 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.
