Devonte Brown, Day Care Teacher at The Learning Factory in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Accused of Molesting Four Young Girls
BUSHWICK, BROOKLYN (February 15, 2026) – A daycare teacher at The Learning Factory in Bushwick, Brooklyn identified as Devonte Brown has been arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing young girls.
New York City officials are saying that the abuse allegedly took place over an 18-month period. The victims’ ages are between 5 and 9 years old.
Prosecutors are saying that Devonte Brown touched the intimate parts of the victims’ bodies with his hands over and under their clothing. They are also claiming that he sexually abused one of the victims at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6.
Two of the girls came forward and told their parents about the abuse in August 2025 and September 2025. Their parents ultimately reported what happened to the police.
Devonte Brown has since been arrested following an investigation. He is currently being held on $150,000 cash bail. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office is investigating the possibility that there may be additional victims.
Liability for Sexual Abuse in New York City
Schools and daycares across New York City have a legal obligation to protect the children in their care from foreseeable sources of harm. They must enforce all rules and regulations necessary for their protection. This necessitates that they supervise children at all times of the day. An institution could be liable if a teacher sexually assaults a student if they failed to take steps to prevent assaults in their care. Schools should take several actions to protect students from abuse at the hands of teachers.
- Background Checks: Schools should perform comprehensive background checks on all of the teachers, staff, and volunteers that they work with. They should also verify all of the credentials and references of any prospective school employee.
- Codes of Conduct: Schools should establish and enforce a clear code of conduct that defines all boundaries and prohibits teachers from being isolated with individual students.
- Supervision: Schools should implement strong supervision policies at all times of the day. Cameras and other technology can be helpful in this regard.
- Reporting: Schools must immediately report any instance of suspected abuse to law enforcement.
A number of lawsuits have been filed after children have been sexually abused by teachers or other adults in a school setting. Consider, for example, J. B. v. Monroe-Woodbury Cent. Sch. Dist., 2024. In that case, a child was sexually assaulted by a school physician during a routine examination. The school’s own policies stated that students are not supposed to be left alone with a doctor or teacher to prevent these types of incidents. However, there wasn’t any direct evidence that the doctor would abuse the victim. The NY Supreme Court held that a school can be liable for injuries proximately related to the absence of required supervision.
Steps to Take After Sexual Abuse in New York City
Sexual abuse involving educators remains alarmingly common across New York City. According to the New York Post, “Dozens of New York City educators have been accused of having inappropriate, often sexual relationships and communications with students, with some requesting nude snaps or plying them with money, gifts or drugs, newly released records show.” The parents of any child impacted by sexual abuse should take certain steps.
- Safety: The immediate safety of the child should always be the top priority. They should be removed from contact with the alleged abuser.
- Police: The police should be called so that they can begin a formal investigation into the misconduct.
- Evidence: All evidence related to the misconduct should be collected and carefully preserved.
- Avoid Traps: Parents should avoid signing any NDAs or other agreements with the institution responsible for caring for their child.
- Legal Review: The parents of the child victim should consult an experienced New York sexual abuse attorney as early as possible. An attorney can help ensure that key pieces of evidence are preserved.
The vast majority of sexual abuse that takes place in a school or care setting is totally preventable. These incidents tend to involve major safety lapses, including prolonged instances of inadequate supervision. By the time any teacher is arrested for sexual misconduct, there may have been dozens of red flags that were missed. Unfortunately, schools will virtually never accept responsibility if a child is injured in their care. This is why it is so important that these incidents are properly investigated by an outside party.
Investigating New York City Teacher Sexual Abuse
We at Richmond Vona extend our best wishes to all of the children and families who have been affected by the actions of Devonte Brown. Any person who may have more information about what happened should come forward and speak with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. Many questions remain unanswered at this time. What safety policies were in place at The Learning Factory? Has the perpetrator been the subject of other allegations of misconduct?
Has your child been the victim of sexual abuse or misconduct in Brooklyn? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of experienced New York sexual abuse attorneys is here for you. We are committed to helping abuse victims get the support and information that they are entitled to under the law. Whether you just
