The families of three children, aged seven to eleven, have filed federal lawsuits against Green Charter School of the Midlands and the South Carolina Public Charter School District following allegations of sexual abuse by school employee Sulaymaan Benoit during the school’s after-school program. These lawsuits allege that the school and district failed to protect the victims and demonstrated a pattern of deliberate indifference toward sexual assault.
The lawsuits claim that school employees, including principal Dr. Tina Shaw, were aware of Benoit’s abusive actions but failed to report them to the police as mandated by law. Dr. Shaw was arrested on February 26, 2025, and charged with failure to report child abuse, while Benoit was charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor under eleven. Benoit’s bond hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at the Richland County Courthouse.
Attorney James B. Moore III of Evans Moore, LLC is one of the attorneys representing the victims. The lawsuits provide harrowing details of abuse ranging from unwanted touching and groping to forced oral sex, as well as repeated attempts by school officials to ignore or downplay allegations rather than notify law enforcement. One email cited in the lawsuits shows Dr. Shaw consciously choosing not to report multiple allegations of abuse.
Following the arrests, Executive Director Tom Cronin defended Dr. Shaw in a letter to parents. Attorneys assert that the South Carolina Public Charter School District, as the school’s sponsor, shares responsibility for failing to protect the victims. Sellers emphasized that the children will carry lifelong scars, Robins highlighted the district’s deliberate indifference, and Moore stressed that the school knowingly failed to involve the police.
Copies of the lawsuits are publicly available, providing a detailed account of the abuse and the alleged failures of the school and district.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sulaymaan Benoit?
Sulaymaan Benoit is a former employee of Green Charter School of the Midlands accused of sexually abusing children during the school’s after-school program.
What charges have been filed against Dr. Tina Shaw?
Dr. Shaw, the principal, was arrested and charged with failure to report child abuse after allegedly knowing about Benoit’s actions but not notifying law enforcement.
What legal actions are being taken?
Federal lawsuits have been filed against Green Charter School of the Midlands and the South Carolina Public Charter School District by the families of the victims, citing deliberate indifference to sexual abuse.
When is Benoit’s bond hearing?
Benoit’s bond hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at the Richland County Courthouse.
What does the lawsuit allege?
The lawsuit alleges repeated sexual abuse of children by Benoit and a pattern of deliberate indifference by school officials, including failure to report the abuse to authorities.