By Ivan Pereira
A pair of southeast Queens public school teachers were arrested last week in two separate incidents for sexually assaulting their students out of the classroom, the Queens district attorney said.
Simon A. Watts, 38, of St. Albans, was arraigned April 21 on charges of sexually abusing some of his students at PS 15 in Springfield Gardens, Queens DA Richard Brown said. The arrest came two days after a Jamaica teacher was charged with having sex with one of her students at PS 80, according to Brown.
“The charges in both cases are disturbing on so many levels. As teachers and adults, the defendants were in positions of power and had no business having any contact with minors outside of school work,” he said in a statement.
Watts, who was a fourth-grade teacher at PS 15 at 121-15 Lucas St. until his arrest, is accused of sexual conduct against a child, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. Between Sept. 1, 2007, and March 9, the instructor allegedly abused five girls by touching them in a sexual manner, the DA said.
On at least one occasion, Watts allegedly told his victim not to tell anybody about what he was doing, according to Brown. The teacher has been removed from the school and ordered to return to court May 3, the DA said.
If convicted, he faces, up to seven years in prison, according to Brown.
Watts was not the only teacher suspected of crossing the line with a student, the DA said.
Christine Williams, 41, of Jamaica, was charged with rape, criminal sexual act and endangering the welfare of a child April 19. Williams, who was removed as a fifth-grade teacher at PS 80 at 171-05 137th Ave. in Jamaica following her arrest, allegedly had sex with a 15-year-old student at her residence on Jan. 29 and Feb. 5, Brown said.
The teen was a family friend of Williams, according to the DA. The teacher was released on her own recognizance and ordered to return to court May 10, Brown said.
If convicted, she faces up to four years in prison, the DA said.
“Children should be able to remain children. Such alleged conduct cannot go unpunished,” he said in a statement.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
