BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Employees at Progress High School for Professional Careers have been accused of sexually assaulting students.
William Abreu, the assistant principal at the school, allegedly forced a 17-year-old former student in his office in 2009 by threatening to report her to immigration authorities, the New York Times reports. Abreu’s employee, Juan Martinez, a worker in an after school program faces accusations of forcing a 16-year-old sophomore to perform oral sex with him in his office in 2011.
Both teens were hired to assist with clerical-type work in the school’s office; Abreu allegedly told the victims that it was a job requirement to have sex with him. A report released by the Special Commissioner of Investigation states that both Abreu and Martinez continued to sexually abuse the students and ordered them to keep quiet about it.
The Special Commissioner of Investigation for the New York City School District began investigating the case 14 months ago after three 15-year-old female students reported that Abreu made inappropriate remarks to them, including asking one to perform oral sex.
Abreu has been suspended without pay since June 2012. Authorities have asked the city’s Department of Education to dismiss Abreu and to deem Martinez, who is not an employee with the Education Department, ineligible for future employment in the schools.
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