Special Ed Teacher Accused of Having Sex with Student
NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A special education teacher has been accused of having sex with a 15-year-old disabled student.
Police arrested 27-year-old Mandi Weeks, a teacher at the Devereux Foundation Red Hook campus in Dutchess County, Monday in Queens.
Weeks has been charged with two counts of third-degree rape, three counts of third-degree sexual act, endangering the welfare of a child, and two counts of third-degree sexual abuse.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown says the alleged abuse occurred at the student's home and in a parking lot, both of which are located in Queens. He said the boy, who is a resident student at the school and lives on campus, was home on break when the alleged abuse happened.
Police learned of the relationship between the student and Weeks after the boy got lost after getting on a subway Monday to find Weeks, Brown said. The boy's mother reported him missing and police went through his computer in search of leads and allegedly found inappropriate e-mails to him from Weeks.
John O'Keefe, the Executive Director of the Devereux Foundation, says Weeks has been a teacher at the school since Feb. 2007. He says she has been fired and is not allowed back on the campus.
Weeks underwent a rigorous screening process and criminal background check and neither indicated any problems or concerns said O'Keefe.
The school says it will cooperate fully with law enforcement officials and will review its internal policies and procedures to assure the safety and security of its students.
O'Keefe said the school's staff is shocked and saddened by the charges against Weeks.
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