The substitute teacher accused of raping a 14-year-old student multiple times was supported by dozens of family members and friends at her court appearance yesterday. And her lawyer says she's innocent.
Maria Contreras, a mother of two young children, faces six counts of rape with a victim under 15 years old and two counts of criminal sex act with a victim under 15. She worked as a substitute paraprofessional at the Bronx Academy of Letters since September 2013 until the Department of Education fired her after her arrest. The NY Times reports:
In a criminal complaint, prosecutors said Ms. Contreras had sexual intercourse with the boy six times at her apartment over the course of about two weeks in November. After performing and receiving oral sex from the boy during their first encounter, the complaint said, Ms. Contreras told him, “Just put it in already.”
In January, Ms. Contreras assaulted the boy twice at school by rubbing his genitals through his clothing, the complaint said. He asked her to stop, the complaint said.
However, Contreras' lawyer, Ruth Hamilton, pointed out that paraprofessionals are not allowed to be alone with the students, "This is an accusation that does not ring true." She said of the accuser, "This is the word of a special needs child with serious behaviorism issues," and added, "There is no evidence. No e-mails, no texts, no Facebook posts, no messages."
Contreras, 29, is being held on $25,000 bail.
