A 31-year-old math teacher at Ossining High School was arrested Friday afternoon—the day of his wedding—on allegations of raping a 16-year-old female student, police and school officials told Patch.
Police said the alleged incident took place "off district grounds and outside of normal school hours," and occurred earlier this year.
The teacher—John Azabache of Port Chester—was arrested by Ossining Village Police and charged with two counts of rape in the third degree, a felony. Azabache began working at the school at the start of the 2008-09 school year, and later received tenure.
Ossining Schools superintendent Raymond Sanchez penned an email to parents Friday, both in English and Spanish.
"We are extremely disturbed by these allegations, as I am sure all of you are, and we are cooperating with law enforcement officials in their investigation of the matter," the letter reads.
"As of the writing of this letter, Mr. Azabache has been administratively reassigned from his teaching position and barred from school grounds pending the outcome of the legal process," school officials continue.
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Police could not comment on whether or not an official ban was issued.
Azabache was arraigned in Town Court Friday and released on a $50,000 bond, police told Patch.
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Sanchez said the incident had betrayed the trust parents place in educators.
"Allegations such as this can violate the confidence that parents should rightly have in their teachers and school district, which we will not tolerate," he said. "Parents should always view their schools as safe and nurturing places of learning and support."
Sanchez added that counselors will be available for students all of next week.
According to an online database that tracks public employee's salaries, Azabache earned $74,622 in 2011.
Stay with Patch as this story develops.
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