IRMO, S.C. (WIS) – A teacher at Green Charter School of the Midlands has been arrested on multiple counts of molesting students, while the school’s principal faces charges for failing to report the alleged abuse to law enforcement.
Sulaymaan Benoit, 32, the school’s after-school director and a substitute teacher, was taken into custody Wednesday morning and charged with eight counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to the Irmo Police Department.
Authorities also arrested Tina Shaw, 41, the school’s principal, charging her with failure to report child abuse and two counts of second-degree assault and battery.
The investigation began in January when a concerned parent reported suspicions that their child had been assaulted. Police uncovered evidence that Benoit inappropriately touched at least three students, aged 7-12, on school grounds.
At a press conference, Irmo Police Chief Bobby Dale described the incidents as “nonconsensual, lewd, and lascivious.” He stated that the abuse dates back to at least October but may have been occurring since August. Benoit had been employed at the school for two years.
Police said that Shaw was aware of the allegations but only reported them to her supervisor, failing to notify law enforcement—a violation of her mandated reporter duty under South Carolina law.
“Mandated reporting is just that. If you don’t do your job, we’re going to do ours, and that’s what we did today,” Chief Dale said.
The Irmo Police Department is urging any additional victims to come forward as the investigation remains ongoing.
