Long Island Music Teacher Accused Of Having Sex With Teen Student
VALLEY STREAM, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police have arrested and charged a Long Island music teacher with having a sexual relationship with a female student.
Yoel Gonzalez, 27, met the victim in 2009 when the girl signed up for guitar lessons at Bracco Music Center in Valley Stream, police said.
The lessons were usually held at Bracco's, but eventually Gonzalez and the girl started to meet up outside of the music center, police said.
After Gonzalez stopped working at Bracco's, he continued to tutor the teen privately in her home, police said.
After two years of lessons, Gonzalez, who was 24 years old at the time, initiated a sexual relationship with the victim who was 15 at the time, police said. The relationship continued for about two years.
"He manipulated her for years with this as the result and I hope he fries," the young girl's mother told CBS 2's Carolyn Gusoff. "Yes, he was in my home and, yes, he went to my daughters Sweet 16 party, and, yes, I made coffee, but without any thought he was betraying my family."
Information regarding their relationship surfaced and Gonzalez was arrested without incident on Thursday.
He is charged with rape and criminal sex act.
Gonzalez was arraigned Friday in Hempstead. Bail was set at $25,000.
"We are going to defend the charges very vigorously. My client denies this contact," defense attorney Leonard Chipkin.
Nassau County Police said they're trying to identify other possible young victims and reminded parents to keep close watch over anyone invited into the home to work one on one with children, Gusoff reported.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Special Victims Squad at (516) 573-4022.
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