FORMER BABYLON HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER PLEADS GUILTY TO ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A CHILD

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that former Babylon High School teacher Timothy Harrison, 48, of Oak Beach, pleaded guilty to Endangering the Welfare of a Child for engaging in sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old student in 2013.

“This defendant abused his role as an educator and preyed on a teenaged student. Instead of being a teacher, he took advantage of her,” said District Attorney Tierney. “The courage shown by this young woman in reporting this crime even though it had occurred eight years earlier is amazing. This guilty plea ensures that Harrison will no longer be a teacher, and as such, current and future students will be protected from his predatory behavior. We urge anyone who feels they have been sexually abused to come forward and report these crimes no matter how long ago they occurred. We are thankful that this victim stepped forward as reporting predators will protect others.”

The investigation and the defendant’s plea allocution revealed that between September and November of 2013, Harrison sent the victim, who was 15 years old at the time, flirtatious text messages, gave her alcohol, and had sexual intercourse and oral sexual conduct with her at his residence in Oak Beach.

In 2021, the victim came forward and reported the sexual abuse to Babylon High School and then to the Suffolk County Police Department’s Special Victim Section.  Harrison was arrested on March 3, 2022. 

On September 15, 2023, Harrison pleaded guilty before County Court Judge, the Honorable Karen M. Wilutis to the charge of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor. As part of the plea, the defendant was also required to surrender his teaching license. 

Harrison is due back in court for sentencing on November 9, 2023.  He is represented by Kevin Keating, Esq. 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Melissa Grier of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau with investigative assistance from Detective Patrick Boyles of the Special Victims Section of the Suffolk County Police Department. 

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