Harlem After-School Worker Sentenced For Sexually Abusing 2 Children: DA

HARLEM, NY — A former after-school worker at a Harlem charter school could serve life in prison for sexually assaulting two male students.

Darnelle Watts, 29, was sentenced Wednesday to 20-years-to-life on one count of predatory sexual assault against a child, two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of endangering the welfare of the child, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's office.

Watts was convicted in January of abusing two schoolchildren — two boys ages 10 and 12 — at the Promise Academy II in Harlem while she worked at the charter elementary school as an aide with the school's choir, according to the District Attorney's office. Watts repeatedly sexually assaulted the 10-year-old boy both on and off school grounds from September 2014 through May 2015 and sexually abused the 12-year-old boy from March 2015 through June 2015, according to the District Attorney's office.

While prosecutors were able to convict Watts of sexually abusing the two boy's there is fear that Watts may have used his status at the school to abuse more victims that at this time are currently unknown.

"A jury deliberated for just two hours before finding Darnelle Watts guilty of committing repeated acts of sexual abuse against two students in his care," District Attorney Cyrus Vance said in a statement. "As a choir teacher and after-school aide, this defendant worked with children each and every day, and there is cause for concern that there may be additional victims in this case."

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