The Queens teacher accused of molesting several students took the stand today to defend his record and vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
Simon Watts is accused of touching five students between 2007 and 2010 when he taught third and fourth graders at Jackie Robinson Elementary in Springfield Gardens
“I’d like to think I was a good teacher,” Watts said while being questioned by his attorney, Amy Marion. “I was very organized. I was a strict disciplinarian.”
Simon, 42, denied touching or forcing touched by his accusers who were all between the ages of 8 and 9 at the time.
The married father said that while he would occasionally have private conversations with students after class, he would never touch them inappropriately.
“We would have quiet conversation,” Watts said. “I’d talk to them when they come up to my desk. “
When asked by prosecutors if Watts ever had any physical contact with his students while near his desk, he replied, “Sometimes, but not often,” explaining that he would occasionally touch a student’s arm during conversation.
The testimony came days after his accusers explained in graphic detail how Watts molested them when they were his students.
The jury will begin deliberation on Monday.
“We hope that the jury does what they are supposed to do which is to look at all the evidence in this case and to realize that there is no evidence that Mr. Watts did anything wrong near what these children say,” said his lawyer Amy Marion.