Innocence Robbed As Four Youngsters Molested At Elmhurst Elementary School

The stairwells at P.S. 161 in Elmhurst, normally overflowing with lighthearted laughter and youthful exuberance turned into a sinister scene of sexual assault Monday, as an intruder broke into the school through an unguarded door, and molested four children under the age of eight, police said.
The attacks come on the heels of a similar incident at the elementary school last Thursday, where a man allegedly confronted a third grade girl in an empty stairwell. Although last weeks incident was reported to the schools assistant principal, it was apparently not brought to the attention of the Board of Education.
"There should be cameras everywhere," said Yaneiry Saldana, a fifth grade student at P.S. 161. "Teachers shouldnt send children around by themselves. I am not scared, but my nine-year-old sister couldnt sleep last night."
Anxious to walk their children home, disturbed parents showed up at P.S. 161 early Tuesday afternoon, long before the students were let out at 2 p.m. "Where were the police yesterday? Giving people tickets," said Ariel Roman, whose daughter Oriana attends the school. "They need to be around and inside the school. My daughter was afraid. She had a nightmare last night."
Oriana relayed her tale of terror from Monday morning. "We all needed to go to one exit," said the youngster. "I thought somebody would do something."
Mondays frightening scene began innocently enough, as a seven-year-old boy and girl, walking unchaperoned in pairs through a stairwell were confronted by a man police describe as Hispanic, ages 18-20. Police said the intruder, who entered the building through a rear door accidentally left unlocked after a delivery, approached both children at 8:30 a.m. and fondled the girl.
Only ten minutes later, he set his sights upon an eight-year-old boy and girl, fondling both. Moments later he set his sights on two six-year-old girls, sodomizing one.
Authorities believe they may be dealing with same man who perpetrated last weeks attack, since the intruder in both cases urged the children to "close their eyes." The schools principal, Cleonice LoSecco, sent a letter home to parents instructing them to remind children not to talk to strangers, and to immediately report all incidents to their teacher. "We will review safety measures at the school with your children," the letter said. "We will tell them to inform their teacher immediately if anything happens to them in school."
A group of angry parents assembled outside the school Monday complaining that the schools one safety officer was not enough to protect their children. P.S. 89 is a five-story school with 10 entrances. However, only the main door is manned with a guard.
Over 2,000 children in kindergarten through fifth grade attend classes daily at the school.