Who is John Fraioli? Mom of girl, 15, raped by NY teacher says he 'preyed upon her and stripped her of hope'
WESTCHESTER, NEW YORK: The mother of a minor girl raped by a teacher in Westchester County, New York State, said her daughter was “stripped of hope”, as she delivered an emotional statement at the criminal teacher's sentencing on Tuesday, January 26. John Fraioli, 36, admitted to engaging in a sexual act with the minor victim in the school building as well as in his White Plains home, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office. The incident took place at the New Rochelle High School in 2019, prosecutors said.
In October 2020, he was admitted in Westchester County Court that he committed a third-degree criminal sexual act on the New Rochelle charge, and to one count of third-degree rape on the White Plains charge, both of which are felonies. Fraioli was initially arrested in May 2019 by New Rochelle police after he engaged in a sexual act with the victim, who was a student, in the school building. The incident occurred on the morning of May 1, 2019. The student was 15 years old at the time, court records show.
He continued to abuse the victim in his White Plains home and was then arrested by police in November. He had resigned from his teaching position several days prior to his arrest, the District Attorney's office said. Fraioli made $77,936 during the last school year, according to the Empire Center's See Through New York database. Under the terms of the plea, he has sentenced to 10 years' sex offender probation, with shock probation. He must also surrender his New York State teaching license and register as a sex offender, the District Attorney's office said.
“You stripped her of hope. You took full advantage of her vulnerability. You manipulated her. You used her. You preyed upon her.” the victim’s mom told Fraioli during the hearing. "My only hope is that in time she will be able to overcome the abuse you inflicted. My biggest fear is that she may not.”
Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E Rocah said the case is “disturbing”. “It is truly disturbing that someone we trusted to protect and care for our children instead did such terrible harm,” Rocah said. “The statements from the victim and her mother make clear the extreme and long-lasting impact of this abuse.” Fraioli is due back in court on May 11 for a hearing to determine his sex offender risk level.