Trial nears for Boca teacher accused of kissing student

Brian Kornbluth is accused of kissing a boy in an empty classroom.

WEST PALM BEACH — Accusations that prosecutors failed to turn over crucial evidence marked what could be one of the last hearings before the start of a trial next week for a Boca Raton charter school teacher allegedly caught on camera kissing a male student.

An attorney for Brian Kornbluth told Palm Beach County Judge Marni Bryson in a hearing Monday that she never received a Department of Children and Families report from an interview with an alleged second victim, the boy’s sister.

De f e n s e a t t o r n e y K r i s t i n e Rosendahl says she believes DCF officials made other recordings of interviews with both alleged victims, a girl and a boy, but she’s never received them.

Assistant State Attorney Matt h e w P r i c e t o l d B r y s o n a n d Rosendahl that he asked DCF for all the information they gathered and has shared it all with Rosendahl.

Bryson agreed to set a hearing for early next week to discuss the matter further, but on Monday appeared skeptical of claims of withheld evidence.

“There’s not a ghost behind every door, let’s just be professional about this,” Bryson told Rosendahl, adding: “I’ll see you next week.”

The estimated two-day trial for Kornbluth, who allegedly kissed a 10-year-old fifth-grade boy in an empty classroom on Feb. 9, is expected to begin May 18.

The incident was caught on classroom surveillance video, according to police. Kornbluth was suspended without pay from the school, Somerset Principal Daniel Shourds said in a letter to parents, and is charged with two counts of battery.

There are also allegations surrounding the boy’s 11-year-old sister. Rosendahl wants Bryson to throw out the battery charge involving the girl because of the alleged missing DCF report.