May 29, 2008 7:06 pm US/Eastern
Queens Teacher Accused Of Having Sex With Students
Woman Arraigned On Rape Charges, Held On $7,500 Bail
Reporting
Cindy Hsu
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Janmattie Singh, 22, a teacher at Richmond Hill High School in Queens, has been arrested on charges of rape and endangering the welfare of a child.
CBS
A shocking crime has come to light involving a Queens high school teacher. The 22-year-old is under arrest, accused of having sex with three teenagers, one of them a former student.
However, the teacher is claiming she's the victim.
Janmattie Singh started teaching just last year. Her students were shocked when they found out she'd been arrested.
"I'm very, very surprised," Carlotta Mohamed said Thursday. "I would never expect something like that from Mrs. Singh. I mean, I had her. I was her student. She was really so friendly. It's just a shock. I can't believe it."
Not everyone believes Singh did what she's accused of.
"I don't believe that because I've known her for quite a while and she seems like a nice girl," neighbor Jimmy Diaz said.
Back in January Singh allegedly contacted one of her former students to have sex. He was 18 years old, and told her he couldn't get away because he was with his two cousins, one of them 15. Investigators say she met with the three boys at their home in Brooklyn and had sex with them.
But on Thursday night, Singh's lawyer told CBS 2 HD his client is the victim.
"My client was the victim of three sexual predators, who took advantage of a 22-year-old young teacher's mental condition when they knew that she was suffering from mental illnesses," attorney Kumar Paturi said. "They knew she was on prescription drugs at the time and they invited her to their place."
It was school officials who notified the authorities. A month later investigators say Singh had another sexual encounter with the 18-year-olds at her apartment near the school.
Just last year a math teacher at the school was arrested for having sex with a 14-year-old student.
Parents are fed up.
"I'm concerned about my kid," parent Bishaw Narine said. "I have my daughter. I'm still waiting for my daughter. I'm totally concerned about her. I hope they take serious action."
Others were just disappointed.
"The role of a teacher is supposed to be guidance of students to their hopes and their dreams," student Victor Roopnarine said. "After hearing this, I don't think she helped anybody."
Singh faces charges of rape and child endangerment. If convicted the maximum sentence is four years in prison.
Singh was arraigned Thursday afternoon and is being held on $7,500 bail.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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