A former Ridgewood public high school teacher last week pleaded guilty to having sexual contact with two male students.
Joy Morsi, 40, of Long Island, copped to third-degree rape and third-degree criminal sexual act last Friday. According to the charges, Morsi, a former gym teacher at Grover Cleveland High School, engaged in sexual acts with two students on school grounds. She had sex in the school basement and other areas on campus with the first victim, who was 16 when the relationship began on June 5, 2013. In May 2014, Morsi exposed herself to the second victim, also 16, and performed a sex act on him.
Morsi was ordered to complete one year of out-patient mental health treatment for a diagnosed depressive disorder. If she completes the treatment successfully, she will be sentenced to 10 years’ probation; otherwise she could face 1½ years in prison, as well as 5 years’ post-release supervision. In addition, Morsi must register with the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Services as a sex offender and undergo a Sex Offender Risk Assessment hearing to assess her risk of re-offense.
At Friday’s court appearance, Morsi also signed an agreement surrendering her teaching license. Her next court date will be March 27.
