A former New York City school teacher has pleaded guilty to raping a fifth-grade special education student.
Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson says 41-year-old Anthony Criscuolo pleaded guilty Friday to a felony count of first-degree rape.
The former Public School 386 special education teacher faces 14 years in prison followed by 18 years of post-release supervision. Sentencing is scheduled for July 7.
Defense lawyer Steven Brill says today Criscuolo “accepted responsibility for his actions.”
Johnson says Criscuolo raped the 10-year-old girl in his car in June 2013.
The city’s Department of Education later faulted the school’s principal for ignoring students’ reports that Criscuolo had been seen kissing the girl.
Criscuolo must now give up his teaching license and will have to register as a sex offender.