Long Island school district ignored warnings about janitor’s ‘harmful sexual tendencies’ before he allegedly groped student in bathroom: suit

A Long Island school district allegedly failed to protect a former student from a perv employee who locked him in a school bathroom and sexually assaulted him, a newly revealed lawsuit claims.

The Massapequa school district is accused of knowing about janitor Michael Sodano’s alleged predatory tendencies and doing nothing to stop him before he groped the then-18-year-old high school senior in February, according to the student’s suit in Nassau County Supreme Court.

“[The district], despite knowing of the inappropriate sexual, offensive, harmful tendencies of [Sodano], failed to exercise sufficient care and control in the hiring, retention, and supervision,” of the now-former staffer, the complaint states.

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It also alleges the district “failed to monitor and supervise [Sodano] — as to prevent him from committing the offensive, harmful and unwanted acts.”

Sodano allegedly preyed on the student — whose name The Post is withholding as he is an alleged victim of sexual assault — for weeks leading up the incident, obtaining his phone number by pretending to want to buy headphones off the teen, the suit claims.

Not long after the pair started texting about the sale, Sodano’s messages allegedly took a sickening turn — asking the then-highschooler for hugs and wanting to have a threesome, the suit detailed. 

After texting for weeks, Sodano allegedly told the student to meet him in the boy’s bathroom near his gym class so he could purchase the headphones without it giving the “impression of a drug deal,” court documents said. 

But when the student walked into the bathroom to sell the headphones, Sodano allegedly used his janitor keys to lock the door behind him and block the exit with his body, according to the complaint.

Sodano then allegedly “bear-hugged” the student and started kissing him all over his face while grabbing his buttocks, the filing reads. 

The disgraced janitor was arrested the next day and arraigned in March on charges of forcible touching and third-degree sexual abuse, according to court documents. 

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He has since pleaded not guilty on both charges and is due back in court on Friday.

The teen’s lawsuit against the district — which seeks an unspecified amount in damages — was filed in July, but first reported by News12 on Wednesday.

“We are aware of the allegations and the individual in question is no longer an employee of the district,” District Superintendent Dr. William Brennan told The Post in a statement. 

“All necessary background checks were conducted and passed in accordance with NYS law. The district does not comment on confidential student matters or those pertaining to litigation,” he said.

Sodano’s attorney, Michael Langer, did not respond to The Post’s request for comment, but told Newsday his client was “wrongfully accused.” 

The student’s attorney, Matthew B. Lefkowitz, also did not respond to The Post’s request for comment.