A Brooklyn math teacher has been formally charged with the sexual abuse of two students within the confines of I.S. 218’s classroom, District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced on Wednesday.
Gary Simon, 59, from Flushing, Queens, faces serious allegations that he forcibly touched a 13-year-old and a 12-year-old student.
“The conduct alleged in this indictment marks an incredible betrayal of trust by an educator, and we have no tolerance for this kind of abuse,” Gonzalez said. “Our schools must be safe havens for teaching and learning, and we will vigorously seek accountability for this defendant’s allegedly reprehensible actions.”
Simon stands accused of first- and second-degree sexual abuse, forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child, according to the charges presented before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Rhonda Tomlinson. The court has scheduled a follow-up hearing for April 7, 2024, while Simon remains on a $15,000 cash or $30,000 bond bail.
The indictment stems from incidents reported between Nov. 15 and Dec. 15, 2023, involving inappropriate and unsolicited contact with a 13-year-old and a 12-year-old student under the guise of classroom interactions.
In one instance, Simon allegedly inscribed a derogatory remark on a student’s paper before physically assaulting her. Another account describes a similarly unprovoked attack under the pretext of a congratulatory hug during a test session.
When one of the victims told Simon that they planned to report him, Simon allegedly laughed and said, “Make sure you spell my name right.”
Both victims reported their experiences to school personnel, triggering an investigation that led to Simon’s arrest on Dec. 28, 2023.
