By Sarina Trangle
A day after a 39-year-old Glover Cleveland High School physical education teacher was arraigned on charges of engaging in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old male student, the Queens DA said she returned to Queens Criminal Court Wednesday on similar charges involving a second student.
Joy Morsi, 39, of Massapequa, L.I., was arrested Monday and arraigned Tuesday on charges of third-degree rape, criminal sexual act and endangering the welfare of a child, according to the criminal complaint.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said she was arraigned again Wednesday on charges of third-degree criminal sexual act and endangering the welfare of a child in the case of another 16-year-old boy. The judge ordered her to post $25,000 in bail on each case, which she made.
“These are serious accusations in which a schoolteacher – who should serve as a role model to students – is instead accused of using her position to gain access to children for her own gratification,” Brown said in a statement.
The New York Post reported Morsi felt snubbed that the first student she is suspected of having sexual relations with had plans to take a date to the prom and responded by allegedly engaging in sexual acts with another 16-year-old boy.
Morsi’s attorney did not immediately return a call for comment.
The teacher allegedly initiated the affair June 5, 2013, by bringing the first student into a closet in the Ridgewood school gym and exposing her breasts, according to the criminal complaint.
Prosecutors said she then performed oral sex on the student and had intercourse with him.
The complaint contends that Morsi, a wife and mother, had sexual contact with the teen at least 20 additional times before July 24, 2013.
Brown said many of these incidents are believed to have occurred in the basement and other parts of the 21-27 Himrod St. school.
The DA said Morsi is accused of engaging in a criminal sexual act with the second 16-year-old student twice inside the school on May 31.
The city Department of Education said it immediately removed Morsi from the classroom after learning of the allegations.
“We find these claims disturbing and reprehensible and she will remain reassigned — far from any student and the school — pending a criminal investigation,” the department said in a statement. “We will work closely with the school to ensure they are given any needed support,” the DOE said in a statement.”
If convicted, Morsi faces up to four years in prison.
Reach reporter Sarina Trangle at 718-260-4546 or by e-mail at strangle@cnglocal.com.
