Sues kid’s alleged abuser for $26M
The mother of an 11-year-old who was allegedly molested by her social studies and homeroom teacher at Brooklyn Science and Engineering Academy in East Flatbush hopes the former educator “rots in jail.”
She is suing the Department of Education for $26 million for damages, according to a Notice of Claim filed against the Department of Education on Wednesday that was seen by the Daily News.
Daniel Santiago, 29, pleaded not guilty last month to charges including sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. He posied a $75,000 bond and declined to comment.
Prosecutors claim the teacher groped the girl’s upper body on the way to a field trip April 5 then sat beside her on the way back, sliding his hand down her pants to molest her. According to court documents, on April 9 at the school he groped her again and tried to kiss her inside a classroom. A day later, he allegedly groped her again inside a classroom.
Defense attorney Michael Postiglione had argued for Santiago’s release, saying he had no prior convictions and understands the severity of the charges against him.
Assistant District Attorney Wilfredo Cotto said in court that the child’s “friends spread rumors about the school,” and then the principal contacted police. He said the child “was initially interviewed by police and did not disclose any information.”
The girl eventually gave investigators an account of the abuse, prosecutors said, and Santiago was arrested.
“The criminal prosecution of this defendant will take place before a civil action for damages for this young victim proceeds to court,” the mother’s attorney, Sanford Rubenstein, said.
The sixth-grader’s mother, who asked not to be identified for the safety of her child, told The Daily News that she knew something was off when her daughter began sharing details of Santiago’s personal life, such as the names of his wife and children. “It was awkward for me, but he was her teacher,” the mother explained.
According to the Notice of Claim, “beginning in September 2018 and “continuing on an almost daily basis through April 10, 2019, at various times during the school day” Santiago “sexually assaulted and battered” the child “in that he engaged in groping and touching the infant claimant’s buttocks, genitals and chest.”
“My daughter said he touched her almost every day, every chance he got. He pushed her away from other kids so he could abuse her,” said the mother. “He kept telling her to cover it up, keep to the plan, say it was just a rumor.” She did not elaborate on what any “plan” might have been.
“They started teasing her. It was humiliating,” said the mother, adding that the school contacted her.
The mother said she checked her child’s phone and found Santiago had been texting her explicit photos and asking her to do the same. “He would text her like he was a kid, as if they were in the same age group. He said he was counting down until she was 18 to have sex with her,” she told The News.
The woman said the situation escalated to stalking, which she said was discovered after relatives who watched the child after school saw her with the teacher and asked her who he was. They noticed his car frequently parked on the block where they lived and saw him hug her, she said.
“I hope he rots in jail. I hope this sets an example so this doesn’t happen to other children,” the mother said.