Parents Speak Out After Bronx Teaching Assistant Accused Of Having Sex With Teen
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Parents at one Bronx school are speaking out after a teaching assistant was arrested over the weekend, accused of raping a mentally challenged student.
Maria Contreras, 29, was arraigned Sunday night on charges including second and third degree rape, sexual misconduct, criminal sexual acts and endangering the welfare of a minor. Bail was set at $25,000.
Contreras, a married mother of two, worked as a para-professional at the Bronx Academy of Letters.
According to the criminal complaint, from Nov. 10 to Nov. 27, Contreras repeatedly lured a 14-year-old boy back to her apartment in the Bronx where prosecutors say she raped the teen several times.
The boy then told his mother, who called police. The complaint also alleges Contreras touched the boy inappropriately while in school just last month.
Many parents say news of the allegations is weighing heavily on their minds.
"Any parent should be worried about this," parent Roy Samuel, who has a son in third grade, told CBS2's Diane Macedo.
"You see that happen all the time, but you don't think it's going to happen in your kid's school until it does," said parent Juan Victoriano.
Don Holway, who lives at the same apartment complex as Contreras, said residents there were incredibly surprised.
"I know her husband somewhat and he's a very nice, sweet man," he said. "I feel sorry for both of them because it's not going to be a good week for them."
Contreras' lawyer argued that there's no evidence to support the case against her.
The Department of Education released a statement, saying Contreras has been fired.
"These allegations are incredibly disturbing. Ms. Contreras has been removed from her position and will no longer be employed by the DOE. We are working with NYPD on their investigation," DOE Spokeswoman Devora Kaye said.
The judge also required Contreras to sign an order of protection, promising not to have any contact with the student. She is due back in court later this week.