Bail Set For Bronx Teacher Charged With Rape
NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- An elementary school teacher in the Bronx is being held on $500,000 bail on charges he allegedly raped one of his young students.
Anthony Criscuolo, 40, appeared in court early Thursday morning and was ordered to hand over all travel documents.
He was arrested Wednesday on charges of first-degree rape, predatory sexual assault against a child, attempted rape and endangering the welfare of a child, authorities said.
The alleged victim is one of Criscuolo's fifth grade students at P.S. 386 in Fordham Heights, police said. According to the criminal complaint, the alleged abuse of the 10-year-old girl has been going on for at least two months.
The first incident happened sometime in April when he sexually assaulted the girl at the school, the criminal complaint said. He did it again sometime in May, allegedly telling the girl, "I'm doing this because I like you," authorities said.
The most recent attack happened Monday when investigators said he lured the girl into a car in the school's parking lot and raped her, according to the criminal complaint.
The girl's mother called police after discovering explicit emails he allegedly sent to the girl, authorities said.
Many parents at the school said they were horrified to hear of Criscuolo's arrest.
"That's horrible," a worried parent said. "Makes me scared."
"I think it's very horrible because my niece is in his class," Denesha Brown of Fordham Heights said. "It's not right. She is a 10-year-old. She cannot defend herself against a grown man."
Criscuolo started teaching in the city in 2002 at P.S. 178. In 2010, he transferred to P.S. 498 in the Bronx. A year later, he went to P.S. 386, where he has taught 5th grade special education.
The Department of Education said Criscuolo has been reassigned to a non-teaching position and is banned from the school. The department is also seeking his termination.
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