By Dorian Block
New York Daily News
January 22, 2009
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/01/22/2009-01-22_catholic_school_dean_charged_in_grope_of.html
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| James West |
A dean at a Bronx all-boys Catholic school was arrested and placed on leave for allegedly unzipping a student's pants and groping the teen in his office.
James West, 55, the dean of discipline at Cardinal Hayes High School, was charged with forcible touching and sexual abuse after the alleged Jan. 13 incident. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment three days later and was released without bail pending a Feb. 10 court date.
According to court documents, a 19-year-old student said West, of upstate Highland Mills, called him out of class and into his office shortly after 1 p.m.
"'Come here,'" West allegedly said, coaxing the student to move closer to his office chair.
West then unzipped the student's pants and reached into the teen's underwear, groping the student's genitals before offering to perform oral sex, according to court documents.
"'I love you,'" West allegedly said. "'I won't tell anyone. I know you won't. I can take you some place where I can do more.'"
West did not immediately return calls for comment.
Joseph Zwilling, spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York, said West was put on leave and a letter sent to parents.
"No other students have come forward indicating any similar complaints," he said. "If any do, we would immediately contact the district attorney's office."
The charges are the latest lobbed against leadership at Cardinal Hayes. Last February, the school's principal was forced out for keeping "inappropriate images" on his computer.
In 2003, a former Spanish teacher pleaded guilty to having sex with a 16-year-old student. With Alison Gendar
Contact: dblock@nydailynews.com
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