Parents are outraged that the press – and not P.S. 236’s administration or the city Department of Education (DOE) – informed them that a school volunteer sent vulgar text messages to a 12-year-old boy.
“On the news” was how many parents learned of 23-year-old Colin Leahy’s arrest, explained a parent of two P.S. 236 students who asked that his name be withheld for fear of retribution.
Back in November 2007 when the school was informed about the messages, “Why wasn’t a letter sent home to the parents? Why wasn’t a letter sent home asking us to speak to the children to see if my children had contact with him or what the contact involved?” the parent asked.
Leahy was initially employed as a substitute paraprofessional at P.S. 236, located at 6302 Avenue U, but became a volunteer when his job was eliminated. One of the parent's children attended a school trip for which Leahy was a chaperone.
“Once his picture was shown on the TV and once this came out, we asked her, ‘Did he ever say anything to you?’ But the answer was no,” the concerned father said.
Principal Mary Barton’s office forwarded media inquiries to the DOE.
Margie Feinberg, a DOE spokesperson, said Barton sent a letter to parents after Leahy was arrested last week – but not when an investigation began last November.
Feinberg said that is the standard policy for public schools.
“Normally, principals do not make public active investigations so as not to compromise the integrity of the investigations,” she explained.
According to a report released by Richard J. Condon, special commissioner of investigation for the DOE, the 12-year-old boy’s mother visited P.S. 236 on November 5, 2007, and showed the text messages to the assistant principal.
That same day, Barton reported the situation to Condon’s office.
“When the principal was told about this allegation by a parent, Mr. Leahy was removed immediately. His name has been placed on the ineligible list, which means he cannot volunteer or work for the DOE again,” Feinberg said.
Officials from the Kings County District Attorney’s office say Leahy, who lives in Mill Basin, allegedly posed lewd questions to two male students, ages 10 and 12.
The 10-year-old victim reportedly told police that he and Leahy were attending a movie at the Kings Plaza Mall, 5400 Avenue U, between October 1 and November 30, 2007, when he allegedly showed a picture of a female “Dancing With the Stars” hoofer he had on his cell phone and asked if he would like it if she performed oral sex on him. Leahy also asked if the boy would like other female stars currently on television to pleasure him orally.
He then asked the youth if his answer would change if he – Leahy – was the one posing the question, prosecutors alleged.
At roughly the same time, Leahy reportedly sent 31 text messages to the 12-year-old’s cell phone, asking him if he had a girlfriend, if he liked girls, or if he was gay, officials said.
The victim alleged that he never gave Leahy his cell phone number, but that the volunteer had given him his number and demanded that he call him while he stood in front of him.
Both students reported what had allegedly happened to their parents, after claiming that Leahy’s questions had “disturbed them.”
Officials from Condon’s office brought the allegations to Leahy, who admitted to most of the claims, although he said that he was only joking with the two children. He also alleged that he sent the text messages to the 12-year-old because he was “curious” about the child’s sexual orientation.
Officials allege that during the texting sessions, he asked what the boy wanted in life, and the child responded “candy and money.” Leahy admitted to countering that message with another text, asking if he wanted anything “nasty” like having his “d—k sucked.”
Leahy was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child – both misdemeanors. If convicted, he could face up to a year in prison.
A spokesperson from the Kings County District Attorney’s office said Leahy was released on his own recognizance following his arraignment last week. He’s expected back in court on May 22.
