Nassau County Prosecutors: Teacher Lied About Criminal History

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -A teacher convicted in a spanking scandal has been arrested again, this time for allegedly lying about his criminal history.

As CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported, prosecutors said the man applied for a job in Nassau County, but then his past came to light.

William Rini's teaching certificate was revoked a decade ago. He was convicted in a student spanking scandal that rocked a New York City middle school.

Rini was arrested trying to teach again, despite his criminal past, this time in Uniondale.

"A leopard changes his spots, at the end of the day he shouldn't be around kids. They did the right thing, he shouldn't be in that profession," Andrew Holmes said.

According to Nassau County Prosecutors, Rini, a former dean at I.S. 145, allegedly denied his conviction for endangering the welfare of 13-year-old boys, when he applied to be substitute teacher for the Uniondale Public Schools.

"That's why these checks and balances are important, when we find someone who deliberately deceives, who says he wasn't convicted when he was, it means we will continue with this prosecution," Acting Nassau County D.A., Madeline Singas said.

The Queens D.A. said Rini was stripped of his teaching certificate after spanking four 13-year-old boys in his van, using a hair brush, and then offering a fifth student $65 to lie about the spankings.

He had been the dean of discipline.

Since then Rini has lived with his mother and brother in an upscale Manhasset neighborhood. His attorney said the former dean did not mean to mislead.

"We are not characterizing that as lying," Victor Knapp said.

Some in the community were forgiving.

"They shouldn't be held by their past, people do change, everyone should have a fair chance," Tisha Freeman said.

The Uniondale school district has responded to the allegations against Rini.

"Mr. William Rini applied for a substitute teacher position during our substitute teacher job fair. Mr. Rini was never hired."

At his arraignment Mr. Rini told a judge that he is not guilty and hope to teach again.