Middleboro school counselor accused of failing to report a rape
Veteran high school guidance counselor and girls softball coach Tanya Sullivan was arraigned earlier this month at Wareham District Court.
MIDDLEBORO – Veteran high school guidance counselor and girls softball coach Tanya J. Sullivan stands accused of failing to report a rape.
“Tanya Sullivan stands accused of one count of failure to report – for an alleged rape,” said Beth Stone, spokesperson for Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz in an email to The Enterprise newspaper.
“She is no longer an employee of the district,” said School Superintendent Brian E. Lynch, who escorted Sullivan off school property in April. Lynch declined further comment citing the ongoing investigation.
Sullivan, 62, wife of former school superintendent Robert M. Sullivan, had been employed by the Middleboro school district for over 20 years. She was arraigned earlier this month at Wareham District Court on the charges of failing to report child abuse and intimidation of a witness. The charges stem from an investigation launched by high school Vice Principal Andrew Dizel on April 15.
According to police records the charge against Sullivan surfaced after a parent brought rape allegations to the school administration, claiming Sullivan did not take any action after his daughter and another freshman reported they were raped by the same individual. Police say Sullivan was required by state law to contact the Department of Children and Families, but she did not.
According to the police report Sullivan claimed it was “debatable” that she was required to file a rape report. Sullivan further impeded the investigation and refused to turn over her notes, claiming they were private. Middleboro detectives Simmone M. Ryder and Kristopher Dees obtained a search warrant and seized Sullivan’s computer and records on April 20. According to the police report Sullivan was not present when her office was searched, but Ryder contacted her, asking for “any and all notes” pertaining to the investigation. According to the police report Sullivan said she had company coming and would deliver the notes later. Ryder said she would send a cruiser to pick up the notes and, according to the police report, Sullivan asked ask why investigators were “making such a big deal of this?”
Sullivan is scheduled for a hearing on Thursday and her criminal defense attorney, Kenneth Anderson of Boston, said the intimidation of a witness charges have already been dismissed and he will ask for the remaining charge to be dismissed. Anderson said it is “extremely misguided” to prosecute Sullivan, explaining the mandated reporter requirement is only applicable when it involves a caretaker abusing or neglecting a child. In this case, Anderson said, the sexual abuse was between a boyfriend and girlfriend. He said Sullivan was very concerned with the welfare of the student, who was in a fragile state. “She was trying to get the girl emotionally prepared (to file a rape report).”
Anderson said Sullivan is not available for comment.
http://middleborough.wickedlocal.com/news/20160721/motion-to-dismiss-filed-on-behalf-of-middleboros-sullivan
Motion to dismiss filed on behalf of Middleboro’s Sullivan
The longtime Middleboro High guidance counselor and girls softball coach stands accused to of failing to report a rape.
WAREHAM – The attorney for Tanya J. Sullivan filed a motion to dismiss on the failure to report charge on Thursday in district court.
The longtime Middleboro High guidance counselor and girls softball coach stands accused to of failing to report a rape. She is no longer employed by the school district.
Judge Therese Wright took the matter under advisement and Sullivan is next expected in court on Friday, Aug. 26, according to Beth Stone, the spokeswoman for Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz.
Sullivan, 62, wife of former School Superintendent Robert M. Sullivan, had been employed by the Middleboro school district for more than 20 years. She was arraigned earlier this month at district court on the charges of failing to report child abuse and intimidation of a witness. The charges stem from an investigation launched by high school Vice Principal Andrew Dizel on April 15.
According to police records, the charge against Sullivan surfaced after a parent brought rape allegations to the school administration, claiming Sullivan did not take any action after his daughter and another freshman reported they were raped by the same individual. Police say Sullivan was required by state law to contact the Department of Children and Families, but she did not.
According to the police report, Sullivan claimed it was “debatable” that she was required to file a rape report and further impeded the investigation and refused to turn over her notes, claiming they were private.
Sullivan’s attorney is Kenneth Anderson of Boston.
Correspondent Alice Elwell contributed material to this report.
Ex-Middleboro school official to face jury trial in November
Fired guidance counselor and coach who failed report a student’s rape allegations now also under DCF scrutiny.
MIDDLEBORO – A former long-time guidance counselor now faces neglect allegations on three fronts.
On Nov. 14, Tanya J. Sullivan, 62, will plead her innocence before a Wareham District Court jury.
Sullivan, who was also a softball coach for Middleboro High School’s girls team, faces charges she neglected to report a student’s rape allegations.
The trial will have no bearing on Sullivan’s employment status with the Middleboro school district, said School Superintendent Brian E. Lynch, who escorted Sullivan off school property in April.
In tandem with the criminal investigation the school launched its own investigation to determine if Sullivan followed the district’s policy and procedures, “We found she did not.” He said Sullivan is appealing her termination to the state Department of Education.
Social services also investigated the rape allegations and found Sullivan was negligent in failing to report to the Department of Family and Children, Lynch said. “They found she should have filed a 51A (child abuse and neglect report).”
Sullivan’s criminal defense attorney, Kenneth Anderson of Boston, is representing her on all fronts.
Anderson said the mandated reporter requirement is only applicable when it involves a caretaker abusing or neglecting a child. In the case against Sullivan the sexual abuse was between a boyfriend and girlfriend. Anderson said Sullivan was trying to get the victim emotionally prepared to file a rape report.
https://www.enterprisenews.com/news/20160902/ex-middleboro-school-official-to-face-jury-trial-in-november
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