A New York City Department of Education teacher was arrested for hugging a 12-year-old student and asking her if she wanted him to be her “papi,” court documents show.
The victim told police she could feel 41-year-old Emil Agaronov’s chest on her breast and his belt buckle on her stomach when she says he hugged her at I.S. 240 on Nostrand Ave. near Avenue K in Midwood on July 28 around 10 a.m., according to a criminal complaint.
The teacher then told the girl he wanted a Latin wife and asked if she would spend the night with him, the complaint reads.
A DOE spokesperson called the allegations “heinous” and said Agaronov has been reassigned to a post away from students as the investigation continues. The department will move to terminate him if the claims are substantiated, the spokesperson said.
Agaronov was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and harassment. He was released without bail after pleading not guilty at his arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court Thursday.
He made more than $98,000 working as a special education teacher for the city last year, according to See Through NY.
The NYPD released a photo of Agaronov, who lives in Brooklyn in Gravesend, and is asking other potential victims to come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.