NEW YORK — On Wednesday, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced the arraignment of a teacher for the alleged sexual abuse of two students at a borough school.
The teacher, identified as Gary Simon, 59, teaches mathematics at IS 218, located at 370 Fountain Avenue.
“The conduct alleged in this indictment marks an incredible betrayal of trust by an educator, and we do not tolerate this type of abuse,” said District Attorney Gonzalez. “Our schools must be safe havens for teaching and learning, and we will work aggressively to seek accountability for this defendant’s allegedly reprehensible actions.”
Simon, a Flushing resident, was charged with first- and second-degree sexual abuse, forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child.
According to the district attorney, an investigation from November 15, 2023 to December 15, 2023 stated that a 13-year-old girl was in the defendant’s classroom finishing an assignment when the defendant allegedly wrote “you suck” on a paper she gave him.
When the student asked the defendant why he wrote to her that he allegedly grabbed her and touched her breasts with his hands.
Additionally, according to the investigation, on December 7, 2023, a 12-year-old girl was in the defendant’s classroom taking a test when the defendant allegedly hugged the girl and touched her breasts with his hands. The victim told the defendant that she was going to report him, according to the investigation, and he allegedly laughed and said, “make sure you spell my name correctly.”
The first victim reported the alleged abuse to her counselor and the second victim reported the alleged abuse to her gym teacher. The allegations were relayed to the school principal and the police were notified.
The accused was arrested on December 28, 2023, after an investigation.
He was ordered to return to court on April 7.
2024-02-15 03:35:27
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