A former public school computer teacher last week pleaded guilty to charges involving the sexual abuse of four young boys in his classroom on multiple occasions before his removal from the school, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.
Wilbur Cortez, 52, of Rego Park, was the computer teacher at PS 174 located at 65-10 Dieterle Crescent in Rego Park, where the incidents occurred in spring 2007, and then over the course of the 2010-2011 school year and the fall 2011 school year.
Cortez appeared in court last Wednesday and pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree sex abuse and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
According to the charges, Cortez engaged in acts of sexual conduct with four male students who were younger than 11 years old at the time on multiple occasions in the spring of 2007 and between Sept. 7, 2010 and Oct. 21, 2011.
Justice Kenneth Holder set sentencing for March 30, at which time he will sentence Cortez to 10 years’ probation, and he will have to enroll and complete sex offender counseling. Additionally, as a convicted sex offender, Cortez must register for life with the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Services, surrender his state teaching license and resign his employment with the city Department of Education. At sentencing, Cortez will also undergo a Sex Offender Risk Assessment Hearing to determine his risk of re-offense. His risk level will determine the frequency of his reporting duties and the amount of public notification.
By The Forum Staff
