A Kew Gardens Hills teacher is being investigated for allegedly offering a female student gifts and money in exchange for sexual favors, according to a report.
Martin Howfield, a 56-year-old Spanish teacher at North Queens Community High School and licensed attorney, gave the 17-year-old student a paid internship at his law office, the New York Post reported. However, an investigation by the Special Commissioner of Investigation (SCI) revealed that the student’s only duties were performing sexual favors.
The school at 141st Street and 77th Road works with “overage and under-credited students” struggling to graduate. The internship was funded by the city through a Department of Education program meant to give students introductory job experiences.
According to the SCI, Howfield approached the female student with an offer to be her “sugar daddy,” exchanging gifts and $300 in cash monthly for intercourse, sexual favors and explicit photos. The student told investigators she agreed to the arrangement.
The student met Howfield a number of times outside of school at a Jamaica McDonald’s, according to investigators. They would then walk to a local mall where Howfield would purchase items like Jordan sneakers and underwear for the student.
The 17-year-old told investigators Howfield asked her to fill out time sheets stating she worked at “The Law Office of Martin Howfield” to keep up appearances.
The student’s mother told investigators she once received a text from her daughter that she went to the mall with her “sugar daddy, Marty,” who she also worked for in a work-study program at his law firm.
A former student, 17, also came forward and told investigators that she approached Howfield for legal help. He later engaged her in phone sex and “was supposed to give her money for the phone sex, but never did,” according to the student.
Howfield did not comment on the allegations and quit his job in Nov. 2016, according to the DOE.
