Manhattan Middle School Principal Indicted on Eight Counts, Accused of Abusing Students

A former principal at a charter middle school in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood has been indicted on eight counts, including sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child, Gothamist reported. Citing court documents and the Manhattan district attorney's office, the outlet reported that a grand jury returned the indictment after prosecutors alleged the administrator sexually abused at least two children who attended the school during his time leading it, between October 2024 and March 2026. The youngest alleged victim was under 13 at the time, according to the indictment as described by Gothamist.

The NYPD arrested the former principal on Aug. 12, according to the same reporting, and police asked anyone with additional information to contact the department's Sex Crimes Hotline. PIX11 reported that a third student was named in an endangerment count and that school officials said the administrator no longer works there, with the school describing the allegations as deeply alarming for its community. The charges are accusations, and no plea or trial outcome has been reported.

NY1 reported that the mother of a 13-year-old student spoke with the station about her daughter's account, saying the girl reported the principal to the school and that she considers what happened grooming. The mother also told NY1 she believed the administrator later returned to the building, a claim the station said it could not independently verify. NY1 noted that the charter network has faced a prior misconduct case, reporting that in 2022 a teacher was fired and the principal at the time was removed over his handling of that matter.