NEW ROCHELLE, NY — John Fraioli, 34, of White Plains, New York, and up until last June a Social Studies teacher at New Rochelle High School, was arrested Monday by New Rochelle Police Detectives after he was accused of engaging in sex acts with a 15-year old student at New Rochelle High School.
Fraioli was charged with Criminal Sex Act, 3rd, a Class E Felony
“These criminal acts are alleged to have taken place during school hours in New Rochelle High School during the late spring of 2019,” said police.
Mr. Fraioli was employed as a teacher in the high school at the time. The victim is a student at New Rochelle High School.
According to New Rochelle Board of Education records seen by Talk of the Sound, Fraioli was hired as a Social Studies Teacher assigned to New Rochelle High School at the August 23 2016 board meeting under a probationary appointment effective September 1, 2016 to August 31, 2020 at a salary of $73,682. He had previously been hired in 2013 to work on a social studies curriculum.
The New Rochelle Board of Education accepted Fraioli’s resignation at the May 7, 2019 board meeting effective June 30, 2019, “submitted for personal reasons”.
School Districts are prohibited by law from accepting so-called “silent resignations”, where an employee is allowed to resign after the District is made aware of sex crimes by an employee without reporting the allegations to authorities.
New Rochelle Board of Education President Amy Moselhi and Interim-Superintendent Dr. Magda Parvey did not respond to request for comment early Tuesday.
Fraioli was arraigned in New Rochelle City Court about 4:30 p.m. on Monday after he turned himself in to police, according the court clerk’s office. Fraioli is being held in the Westchester County Jail on $25,000 cash bail, $50,000 bond.
His next court date is October 31st.
Police said no further information will be provided at this time.
We have made a FOIL request to NRPD for incident report / arrest report.
UPDATE 10/29 8:00 AM Interim High School Principal Joseph Starvaggi called a “all staff” meeting at the Whitney Auditorium at 8:05 a.m.
UPDATE 10/29 10:30 AM: Fraioli lawyer and bondsman were just in court in front of Judge Susan Kettner posting $50,000 bond. Kettner said mother had appeared with Fraioli at 4:50 pm, Fraioli said he owned firearms, kept at his mother’s house. As consideration for Fraioli release on 10/31 Kettner wants to see a receipt that all firearms surrendered to NRPD.
UPDATE 10/29 10:30 AM:
Statement from Interim Superintendent of Schools Dr. Magda Parvey:
We were deeply disturbed to learn of the allegations involving a former employee of the district. The individual in question resigned from the District effective June 30, 2019. His separation was in no way related to the allegations that have recently been reported. Nor was the District aware of the underlying allegations at the time of separation.
Please be assured that the safety and well-being of our students has been and continues to be our primary concern at all times. To that end, the District has taken immediate steps to ensure that the former employee allegedly involved is precluded from entering the District’s property pending the completion of law enforcement’s investigation and until further written notice from the Office of the Superintendent of Schools.
We are fully cooperating and in close contact with the law enforcement at this time and will continue to cooperate with the investigation in the future. Although we have an obligation to ensure that law enforcement’s ongoing investigation is not compromised in any way, we will continue to update the community on this matter in the future to the extent legally permissible.
UPDATE 10/29 5:44 PM
Statement by Westchester County District Attorney’s Office
Defendant: John Fraioli (DOB 11/10/84)
Oct. 29, 2019 — Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced that John Fraioli of White Plains was arraigned on charges he engaged in sexual activity with a teenager.
Specifically, he was charged in New Rochelle City Court Monday (10/28) with Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, a Class E felony.
Bail was set at $50,000 bond/$25,000 cash. He is scheduled to return to court tomorrow (Oct. 30, 2019).
Background:
Prosecutors allege, John Fraioli, while employed as a teacher at New Rochelle High School, engaged in a sexual act with a child victim. The crime occurred in the school building during school hours last spring.
Special Prosecutions Division Assistant District Attorney Mary Clark-DiRusso, Deputy Chief of the Domestic Violence Bureau, is prosecuting the case.
If you, or anyone you know, has information about potential crimes related to this defendant you or they are encouraged to come forward and notify local police
UPDATE 10/29 7:55 PM: Westchester County Department of Correction records state that as of Tuesday October 29 at 8:34 p.m., John Fraioli was released from the Westchester County Jail in Valhalla by court order and is currently out of custody. He is due back in court on Wednesday October 30th at 9:30 a.m. where he is facing on count of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, a Class E felony.