Levittown high school teacher charged with rape BY BILL MASON AND NEDRA RHONE STAFF WRITERS June 23, 2005 A Levittown high school teacher was arrested Wednesday on charges of rape and other criminal sexual acts involving two high school teenagers, police said. Nassau County police charged Kyle Sabo, 25, a 1998 graduate of Division Avenue High School and now a history teacher there, with third-degree rape and three counts of third-degree criminal sexual acts. Det. Lt. Kevin Smith said the charges involve a boy and a girl, both younger than 17, and police are continuing to investigate whether there were any other incidents or other possible victims. Police said the incidents he is charged with occurred since 2003 either in a car at an unspecified location, or at Sabo's home, 36 Periwinkle Rd., Levittown. "It's just a shock," said Victor Longaro, assistant superintendent for administration, who was reached at home Wednesday evening. "Division Avenue High School is a terrific high school and Levittown is a terrific community. ... This is a well-respected teacher who seemed to have a large following of students. It is heartbreaking." After Sabo's arrest about 4 p.m. Wednesday, the district said in a statement that it would terminate Sabo "as quickly as is allowed by state law." District Superintendent Herman Sirois said in the statement that on June 15, the district received "information regarding alleged inappropriate contact between a teacher and several students." Smith said school officials notified police immediately, and an investigation was conducted that led to Wednesday's arrest. Longaro said the allegations "certainly came as a surprise to me." Sabo was a graduate of Hofstra University. When he was hired three years ago, it was Sabo's first full-time position, he said. Sabo taught a variety of courses including some Advanced Placement and Regents-level classes, he said. Sabo also had served as an adviser for school clubs, and he regularly attended after-school events along with other teachers. Sabo could not be reached for comment. Although Thursday is the first day of examinations before summer vacation, school officials said they have offered counseling services for parents and students who seek them. Sabo was to be arraigned Thursday in First District Court, Hempstead. Smith said, "Nassau County police would encourage anyone else who may have had a crime committed against them by this teacher to contact the police department." http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lirape0623,0,928027.story?coll=ny-to p-headlines |