A former Long Island history teacher accused of raping a child in the bathroom of a home and sexually abusing him over a period of two months has pleaded not guilty.
Lionel Harvey was arraigned Friday on a grand jury indictment charging him with rape, attempted rape, sex abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. He was released on $150,000 bail.
Harvey, a former Uniondale High School teacher, was arrested earlier this year after he was accused of the attack on a child under the age of 13. According to court documents, Harvey allegedly raped or sexually abused the child multiple times between February and April.
In one case, the child was raped in the bathroom of a home in Uniondale, according to court documents. Harvey's attorney has denied the charges.
A spokesperson for the Uniondale School district confirmed Harvey is no longer employed there, but it wasn't clear if he was removed from his position as a result of his May arrest.
At the time of Harvey's initial arraignment in May, the school district administratively reassigned him and he was told to stay away from school property and school-related functions and activities pending the outcome of the investigation. Those conditions remain in effect, the spokesperson said.
"The safety of our students is our first priority, and we will take all appropriate action to ensure that our school district remains a safe and protective environment for our children," the district said in a statement.
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The child was not a student at the school where Harvey taught, and it's not clear how the two knew each other. An order of protection was issued for the child.
Harvey was released on $150,000 bail after his arraignment.
