Cops: Flushing teacher had sex with 14-year-old

A former Smithtown man who teaches English at a Flushing middle school faces statutory rape charges after he had sex with an underage former student over several months, officials said.

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said Daniel Reilly, 36, of 68-64 Yellowstone Blvd. in Forest Hills, was arraigned Tuesday on four counts of second-degree rape, two counts of second-degree criminal sexual act, one count of endangering the welfare of a child and six counts of third-degree sexual abuse.

The sexual relationship began in August 2012 when the girl was 14 years old and ended this month, Brown said, adding that Reilly initiated the trysts in his home by sending the girl a text message asking her to have sex with him.

Reilly, who teaches at I.S. 237, was released on $30,000 bail and is due back in court May 6. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison, Brown said.

Officials said the sexual liaisons took place in the home Reilly shares with his wife, Annemarie.

"This case is particularly disturbing," Brown said. "Schools should be safe havens for children. Instead, this defendant is accused of sexually preying upon one of his former students and rendezvousing with her at his residence."

Deon J. Hampton