Santa Fe Public Schools has reached a $2.2 million settlement in a civil lawsuit involving a former student who alleged she was sexually assaulted by a classmate on the campus of Santa Fe High School in 2021.
The complaint, filed in 2023, details troubling allegations against a fellow student who was accused of giving the girl drugs, assaulting her in a fellow student’s vehicle, and abandoning her in a portable toilet located near the principal’s office.
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The lawsuit also implicated the security company hired by the district, Allied Universal, for failing to ensure student safety on the extensive 100-acre campus.
Incident Overview: Key Allegations and Events of the Santa Fe High School Sexual Assault
The criminal case against Badr El-Badri, who was 17 at the time of the incident, included charges of criminal sexual penetration, criminal sexual contact, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, reports the Santa Fe New Mexican. El-Badri and the victim were classmates in a speech and debate class, where he allegedly began harassing the victim on the first day with sexual comments and advances. Eyewitness accounts suggested that a teacher observed some of these actions but did not report them.
El-Badri was reportedly on probation and wearing an ankle monitor at the time, yet faced no heightened supervision from school officials. After being suspended in early September 2021 for threatening a teacher, he returned to school and allegedly offered the victim what he claimed was Xanax. Under pressure, the girl took the drug, which was actually a potent tranquilizer, leading to her visible intoxication.
The complaint further alleges that El-Badri borrowed a student’s car for $20 and raped the girl for several hours before leaving her injured in a Porta-potty. A passerby discovered her after approximately 30 minutes.
Legal Outcomes and District Accountability
The state later dismissed the sex crime charges against El-Badri as part of a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to a felony charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, resulting in a one-year sentence with the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department’s Juvenile Justice Services, reports the Santa Fe New Mexican.
The settlement, finalized in May, resolved claims against Santa Fe Public Schools and district officials, including the former Superintendent Hilario “Larry” Chavez and then-Principal Renee Salazar-Garcia. However, litigation continues against El-Badri, Allied Universal, and another student who allegedly allowed the use of his vehicle.
Santa Fe High School has since ended its contract with Allied Universal and opted to manage more of its security internally.
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Despite requests by the Santa Fe New Mexican, representatives for Allied Universal and El-Badri declined to comment on the ongoing case.
