Posted on: February 27, 2020 05:00 PM

Share : Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp

Elementary school teacher charged with sexual abuse for placing autistic student s hands on his genitals in Bayside

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced that a 48-year-old social studies teacher at an elementary school in Oakland Gardens, Queens has been charged with sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly physically directing a child with autism to touch his genitals and buttocks in class on Wednesday, February 26, 2020. The incident was allegedly captured on video by another individual in the classroom at the time.

District Attorney Katz said, ?The victim in this case is a defenseless child with autism. The defendant ? a trusted teacher in our school system - is alleged to have taken advantage of both his position and the little girl?s innocence. Our children must always be protected from predators. The defendant will be held accountable for his alleged actions.?

The District Attorney?s Office identified the defendant as Marc Scheibel, 48, of 67th Avenue in Oakland Gardens. The defendant was arraigned this afternoon before Queens Criminal Court Judge Michael Gaffey on a complaint charging him with sexual abuse in the first degree and endangering the welfare of a child. Judge Gaffey set bail at $5,000 and ordered the defendant to return to court on March 3, 2020. If convicted, Scheibel faces up to 7 years in prison.

District Attorney Katz said, according to the charges, between 11:39 a.m. and 11:45a.m., on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, defendant Scheibel was observed by an eyewitness sitting at a table with a 9-year-old female student. When the defendant placed both his hands below the table the eyewitness began video recording him under the table. The video allegedly depicts defendant Scheibel pull the child?s hand under the table and onto his groin. The video further shows the defendant allegedly point towards his groin and the child puts her hand in the defendant?s crotch for a period of time. (From Queens DA's office)