Substitute Teacher Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Student

Substitute Teacher Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Student

A substitute teacher in the Allentown School District was charged with sexually assaulting a 9-year old student with special needs.

The Lehigh County District Attorney's Office says Michael James Agrippine, 47, of Coopersburg, was a substitute teacher at Union Terrace Elementary School when the assault occurred last week.

"Sick! I mean how can you hurt a 9-year-old? " wondered parent Shirley Cordova.

After finding out the substitute was once in a classroom  with her 11-year-old son, Amelia Traverzo says she asked "Did he ever act funny with you? 'He said, no.' But now my worry is if he did this to one, how many other kids are going to come forward."

Agrippine is currently in custody and was charged with aggravated indecent assault and other related charges, the district attorney's office said.

Relatives say Agrippine is a husband and father of two girls.

The district attorney says that the school district if fully cooperating with the investigation.

In a statement issued Wednesday evening, the Allentown School District says it is not only cooperating with the police department's investigation, but it is also conducting its own.

"The Allentown School District was made aware of a possible inappropriate contact allegation involving a male substitute teacher with a minor student at Union terrace Elementary School that may have transpired last Thursday or Friday," the district's statement read.

"The district immediately began an investigation of the allegation in conjunction with the Allentown Police Department."

 District officials say Agrippine passed background checks. Since the charges he's been taken off the substitution list.

The suspect's attorney says his client has a "clean history and is emphatically denies the allegations against him."