Eastern Suffolk BOCES teacher William Sperl pleads not guilty to charges of raping student, 16, prosecutors say

An Eastern Suffolk BOCES teacher pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a grand jury’s indictment on charges of rape and sexual abuse of a 16-year-old student.

William Sperl, 60, of Deer Park, was arrested and initially charged last month on four counts of third-degree rape involving a relationship with the student from his audio production class, who is now 19, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

The grand jury charged Sperl on Tuesday with seven counts of rape and seven counts of a criminal sexual act, all felonies, one count of misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child, and five counts of misdemeanor third-degree sexual abuse.

Prosecutors said Sperl, a teacher on the Riverhead campus, met the girl, then 15, in his class in 2019. Prosecutors said he began communicating with her through a school app used to discuss assignments. Authorities said he began texting her cellphone when she was 16 in 2020, requesting she send him intimate photos.

Sperl and the teen began a sexual relationship in June 2020, during which prosecutors said he took her to public parks and beaches. He also had sex several times with her on an empty school bus parked on school grounds, according to court documents.

Prosecutors said the girl came forward with her parents to report the abuse in April out of concern for other potential victims.

“This defendant allegedly used his role as an educator to prey on a student for his own sexual desires,” District Attorney Raymond Tierney said. “The safety of children in our schools and community is a nonnegotiable priority and this kind of abuse will not be tolerated.”

On Tuesday, Sperl's attorney, John LoTurco, said his client "has faithfully and professionally served his community for decades as a beloved teacher and deacon." 

Sperl was arrested Aug. 29 at the Eastern Suffolk BOCES Bellport campus. No students were on campus at the time of his arrest, Eastern Suffolk BOCES superintendent David Wicks said at the time, and the district placed him on home assignment pending the investigation.

Sperl previously posted bail set at $150,000, $300,000 bond or $1.5 million partially secured bond. Suffolk County Judge Karen Wilutis ordered Sperl to surrender his passport. Sperl is due back in court on Oct. 31.

Sperl had served as a deacon at the Roman Catholic Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Deer Park. The Diocese of Rockville Centre said Sperl was not allowed to operate as a deacon, pending the outcome of the investigation.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.