Brooklyn Parents Concerned After Teacher Arrested On Sex Abuse Charges

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Some Brooklyn parents are outraged after learning a science teacher has been arrested after being accused of sexually assaulting five girls.

Omil Carrasquillo, a teacher at P.S. 249, was arraigned Thursday on five counts of first-degree sexual abuse, five counts of second-degree sexual abuse and seven counts of endangering the welfare of a child, prosecutors said.

Carrasquillo was ordered held on bail of $50,000 bond or $25,000 cash. He is due back in court next week.

Carrasquillo allegedly molested five female students between the ages of 9 and 11 on seven occasions between Oct. 31, 2013 and Sept. 18 of this year, authorities said.

"This is a tremendous breach of public trust," District Attorney Kenneth Thompson said in a statement. "Schools should be safe havens for young children such as these school girls who were allegedly abused. Parents count on teachers to act as role models and not to abuse their positions to sexually exploit children."

The alleged abuse was first reported to officials at the school Friday and Carrasquillo, 36, was immediately removed, the city's Department of Education said.

"These allegations are disturbing and we removed Mr. Carrasquillo immediately; he is not near any students," the department said in a statement. "We are investigating the matter and supporting this school community."

After a police investigation, Carrasquillo was taken into custody Wednesday. He had worked for the department since 2006, officials said.

Eddie, a father of two kids who attend P.S. 249, said he learned about the teacher's arrest while watching the news.

"Thank God nothing happened to my kids, you know?" Eddie told 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck.

One mother who lives on the block and whose two young children use the school's playground said she's frightened they might have come in contact with Carrasquillo.

"This has to be investigated," she said. "This is unacceptable."

One woman who said she knows the suspect well told Schuck she doesn't believe the accusations are true.

"Never before I have trouble," she said. "Good person."

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