Webutuck Teacher Accused Of Forcible Touching: Police

NORTH EAST, NY — A Webutuck High School teacher was arrested by the State Police Tuesday for forcible touching.

Craig Trachtenberg, of Hyde Park, was charged with two counts of forcible touching and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Police said the complaints were filed by Webutuck students with the State Police in Dover Plains.

Trachtenberg, who is listed on the school district’s website as an earth science teacher, was arraigned before the Town of North East Court and was sent to the Dutchess County jail in lieu of $2,500 bail or $5,000 bond.

The State Police investigation is continuing in conjunction with the state Department of Education.

Additional charges are possible, police said.

Under New York State law, a person is guilty of Forcible Touching when he or she intentionally, and for no legitimate purpose, forcibly touches the sexual or other intimate parts of another person for the purpose of degrading or abusing such person or for the purpose of gratifying the actor’s sexual desire. It is also an element of this offense that the sexual act was committed without consent. Forcible touching takes place without a person’s consent when it results from any circumstances in which a person does not expressly or impliedly acquiesce to the actor’s conduct.

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Photo caption: Craig Trachtenberg. Photo credit: NYSP.