A 36-year-old teacher, Sandy Carazas-Pinez, has been given a 25-year prison sentence for sexually exploiting a 16-year-old student at a school for special needs children in New York. The sentencing occurred in a New York court on Friday, as announced by US Attorney Jay Clayton of the Southern District of New York.
Carazas-Pinez, a married mother of three from Bethel, Connecticut, who previously worked as a teacher in a city-funded Yonkers school, manipulated her teenage student into believing they were in a romantic relationship. She used her mobile phone to arrange sexual encounters and coerced the minor to engage in sexually explicit activities during video calls.
Law enforcement uncovered text messages where Carazas-Pinez expressed emotional attachment to the student, stating, “I will miss your kisses, hugs, and everything,” while discussing the possibility of ending their relationship. She also instructed the student to obtain day passes to sneak out of school to meet her for sexual encounters in various locations, accompanied by sending suggestive images and messages that she urged him to delete.
US Attorney Clayton condemned Carazas-Pinez’s actions, emphasizing that the sexual exploitation of students by teachers is unacceptable and a betrayal of trust. Carazas-Pinez was terminated from her teaching position at Bondi school in March 2023 and was incarcerated for violating the terms of her bail, which prohibited unsupervised contact with minors. Despite being forbidden from contacting any child under 18, she sent a birthday email to a former student the day after he turned 18, prompting concern from her own legal counsel.
In conclusion, the sentencing of Carazas-Pinez serves as a stark reminder that such misconduct, especially by individuals in positions of authority, will not be tolerated.
