Inappropriate Behavior with Students: Teacher Sentenced

CHAPPAQUA, NY — Christopher Schraufnagel, the former Horace Greeley High School teacher whose close relationship with his drama students was revealed to be highly scandalous, was sentenced in New Castle Town Court today. He received a sentence of three years probation with sex offender conditions.

He had apologized in court earlier in May for the wierd games, sexual innuendos, inappropriate touching, booze and drugs. He said in a statement he should have known not to cross the line.

He had pleaded guilty in November to two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, class “A” Misdemeanors and one count of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, a class “B” Misdemeanor.

Schraufnagel is 42. He has cancer. Probation supervision is expected to be transferred to the State of New Jersey, where he now lives.

The sentencing was the culmination of several years of back-and-forth with the judge and the DA over the terms of the plea deal, the sex and substance abuse therapy, and cancer treatments.

The three years of probation with sex offender conditions includes work and residency restrictions as well as sex offender treatment, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced.

He was required to surrender his New York State Teaching License.

Prosecutors said that from May 1, 2011 to June 5, 2015, the former speech and drama teacher at Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, New York, engaged in numerous instances of sexual assault, inappropriate sexual conduct and contact with a total of three underage students of the school.

In a previous appearance in New Castle Town Court, the defendant admitted subjecting two of the three victims to sexual contact.

A sex offender registration hearing is scheduled for July 12, 2017.

Assistant District Attorney Mary Clark-DiRusso and Assistant District Attorney Joyce Miller of the Special Prosecutions Division prosecuted the case.

Schraufnagel was placed on paid leave in June 2015 when investigation began into his interaction with students. He resigned at the beginning of the next school year, in September. He had taught speech and theater for 12 years at Greeley.

He (and the district) still face several civil suits brought by students and parents.

SEE ALSO:

• Chappaqua Sex Scandal: Schools Chief Resigns
• Chappaqua School District Attorneys Say Students to Blame
• New Suit Says Chappaqua Officials Knew of Problem
• Chappaqua Residents, School Trustees Mad about Legal Position