Long Island Teacher Sexually Abused 10-Year-Old Student: Police

A Long Island elementary school teacher sexually abused a 10-year-old student at an after-school program earlier this month, Nassau Police said.

John Joseph Finnegan Jr., 51, was arrested on Thursday and charged with first degree sexual abuse and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

A 3-week investigation determined that Finnegan subjected a 10-year-old girl to " inappropriate behavior and sexual contact" at the Jackson Annex Elementary School after-school program on Jan. 3, police said. Finnegan, of Island Park, is a teacher at the Hempstead school.

Finnegan also engaged in inappropriate behavior with two other female students that occurred on previous occasions during similar after-school programs, police said.

In a letter to parents on Jan. 9, Hempstead Acting Superintendent Regina Armstrong said several students at Jackson Annex reported on Jan. 4 that "their teacher had inappropriate contact with them."

Finnegan, who makes $118,195 as a teacher according to See Through NY, will be arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead Friday.

Earlier this month, 54-year-old Thomas Barton, a teacher at North Middle School in Brentwood, was arrested for having an "inappropriate sexual relationship" with a 16-year-old former student, police said.