By Alex Christodoulides
Bradley Dieffenbacher, 32, of Levittown, L.I., formerly employed at MS 190 (Russell Sage) in Forest Hills, appeared Monday before Acting Queens Supreme Court Justice Pauline Mullings and entered a guilty plea to the charge of attempted use of a child in a sexual performance, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.As part of his plea, Dieffenbacher, who has been in jail in lieu of $150,000 bail since he was arraigned Feb. 23, will surrender his New York state teaching license and be required to register as a sex offender, the DA said. Mullings said Dieffenbacher is to be sentenced June 16, at which time she said she would likely sentence him to six months in jail followed by 4 1/2 years' probation, the DA said.At various times between April 1, 2007, and Feb. 20, 2008, Dieffenbacher sent sexually explicit instant messages over the Internet to eight adolescent boys, all of whom had been or were presently students in his junior high school math class, according to the criminal charges filed with the DA's office.”The defendant has admitted to trying to take advantage of the young students he was entrusted to teach. A classroom should always be a safe place for a child,” Brown said. “This case should serve as a clear and unmistakable warning that law enforcement is prepared to apprehend and prosecute those who attempt to engage in illicit activity involving children.”Reach reporter Alex Christodoulides by e-mail at achristodoulides@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 155.
