An investigation by the New York Attorney General's Office has found that the Babylon Union Free School District repeatedly failed to respond to reports of sexual harassment by students, allowing the misconduct to become "normalized."

The probe began after students and parents came forward in 2021 following a News 12 exclusive story involving a teacher who was removed from the classroom amid allegations of sexual harassment.

News 12 spoke with former student Brittany Rohl in 2021, who said when she was 16 years old, her track coach started grooming and isolating her, telling her she was special. His actions progressed to becoming controlling and immediately after her 18th birthday, they had sexual intercourse.

That misconduct sparked a state investigation, including nearly 100 interviews and a review of thousands of documents.

The Attorney General's Office concluded the district violated Title IX, New York's Dignity for All Students Act and the New York State Human Rights Law by repeatedly failing to adequately address complaints.

Investigators said the district's failures "created an environment in the Junior-Senior High School in which educator misconduct proliferated with impunity."

"The District created a heightened risk that those educators would continue to engage in misconduct, which they did," the Attorney General's Office wrote. "It also created a heightened risk that other educators would learn by example that they too could engage in misconduct without consequence—which they also did."

The report found many students believed they didn't think they should report the misconduct because of the district's history of inaction. Some who did come forward faced harassment or retaliation, while others relied on a "whisper network" to warn classmates and families about certain educators.

Former students told investigators they suffered "deep and lasting anxiety, confusion, shame, and emotional distress," lost trust in adults meant to protect them, and withdrew from sports and academics they loved after experiencing harassment.

The Attorney General's Office presented its findings to the district in August 2025 and has since negotiated reforms. State officials said Babylon has already adopted a number of changes, including updates to district policies.

The report also noted that when students raised concerns publicly in 2021, some felt they were dismissed, discouraged or met with hostility by district officials.