Posted on 03/15/2002 8:53:46 AM PST by marshmallow
A teacher's aide at a Long Island middle school was charged yesterday with repeatedly raping an 11-year-old blind boy she tutored at her Hicksville home, cops said.
Police said a witness saw Kathy Tuifel, 44, having intercourse with the boy. Tuifel, the married mother of a 10-year-old son and a 12-year-old daughter, was arraigned yesterday on three counts of first-degree rape and jailed on $30,000 cash bail.
She started working at Hicksville Middle School in September, about the same time the victim, a sixth-grader, arrived. Cops said the attacks began in January. Classmates described the boy as bright and likable.
"We're looking into the possibility that there might be other victims," said Nassau County Police Detective Lt. Vincent Robustelli.
Police said the boy, who went trick-or-treating with Tuifel on Halloween and visited her home for "play dates" in addition to tutoring, reported the sexual activity to school officials Tuesday. A witness "from inside the house" later told police about one of the rapes, authorities said.
Husband Backs Her
Tuifel's husband, Robert, a youth league soccer and baseball coach, defended his wife.
"I love my wife," he said at his home. "I know what kind of a woman she is. She's a great mother."
Tuifel's next-door neighbor Jane, who asked that her last name not be used, was in disbelief.
"I have absolutely no doubt that this is not true," Jane said. "She's a good mother. I trust her with my [7-year-old] daughter. She always has juice boxes for my daughter waiting in the fridge."
A neighbor across the street from Tuifel agreed.
"There's no way in hell this could have happened. There's a flip side to every story," said Mary Ann, who also did not give her last name.
Parents picking up their kids from the middle school at dismissal expressed shock at the charges.
"Oh, my God. Nothing is sacred anymore — church, school. Good Lord, what is happening?" said Madeline Stellato, 64, who was picking up her granddaughter Katie, a seventh-grader. "Are the schools looking into the teachers' backgrounds enough?"
Students said they often saw Tuifel leading the boy, who used a cane, down the hall.
"Nothing looked suspicious," said Jenna Riggio, 13, an eighth-grader.
Another student added that Tuifel seemed strict and looked lonely, adding, "He's a blind kid and should get all the help he could. You never know a teacher would do something like this."
High praise indeed. How could such a person ever think of intercourse with an 11 year old boy? </sarcasm>
Geez what a pervie! On the other hand, being falsely accused of raping a child is almost as bad being actually raped. I think there's something to this story, but I want to wait and see what else comes out about this case.
I'm gonna need more than this to even think about buying this allegation. There have been too many false allegations to go the "kids wouldn't lie" way anymore.
Congratulations! You are our first "I wish I was raped" cretin of the day.
Who saw it and Where?
An eleven year old boy? How could she be that desperate? That is just weird. I guess her hubby is in denial?
Yeah, I'll bet she has juice boxes for all the neighborhood kids.
We have the boy's allegations, which must have at least seemed pretty credible to a DA, and an eyewitness (probably one of her own kids) corroborating one of the boy's allegations. I don't take the fact that she was charged very lightly.
But on the other hand, one grown woman's word against two children's word? They must either have a lot more on this woman or else she's a victim of a sick little boy and a jealous son or daughter.
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