Alpharetta pre-school, employee sued for sexual abuse

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A teacher's aide is accused of sexually abusing a 4-year-old boy in a suit filed against the Bright Horizons at Deerfield in Alpharetta.

A parent of the 4-year-old said Bernard Benta, of Fulton County, sexually molested the child during naptime and in the bathroom of the facility while the child's teacher absent. The suit didn't name the plantiffs to protect the child's identity.

On February 11, the lawsuit states that the child's mother and fiance discovered the boy with his pants pulled down to his ankles, exposing his genitals, during naptime. The mother said she confronted Benta, who was the only adult in the classroom, about why her child's underwear and he seemed nervous and denied knowing the reason, the lawsuit states.

According to filing documents, the child told his mother that Benta had fondled his penis on multiple occasions and that it happened several times in the school's bathroom.

The mother reported the incident to the school's director and to police.

Benta was later arrested and charged with child molestation and sexual assault, the lawsuit states. The school's policy  Under the school's policy, Benta's criminal defense against the accusations will be paid for by the facility, the lawsuit states.

Furthermore, the suit details several other sexual complaints against Benta.

In 2015, a parent reported to the school that Benta, her child’s instructor, made sexually inappropriate comments to her daughter. The lawsuit also claims other parents reportedly called Benta "creepy" and said he made them uncomfortable by he way he stared at the children.

The Bright Horizons at Deerfield is located at 3105 Webb Road.