High School Teacher Arrested For Sexual Assault Of Student: Yonkers PD

YONKERS, NY — A 49-year-old teacher has been arrested in connection with the violent sexual abuse of a 17-year-old student, according to police.

The Yonkers Police Department, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and Yonkers Public Schools are investigating student allegations of disturbing criminal behavior by a Yonkers Public Schools high school teacher. Investigators said the teacher, James Korwatch, a staff member at Saunders Trades and Technical High School, is believed to have started an inappropriate relationship with a then 17-year-old student in 2021. The relationship eventually escalated to physical and sexual violence as well as physical and verbal intimidation and coercion, according to police.

Korwatch is a carpentry teacher at the school and a resident of the Village of Ossining. He was arrested by Yonkers police on Wednesday and is being charged with a felony criminal sexual act and felony stalking. Police said additional charges may be expected.

Korwatch is due to be arraigned Wednesday in Yonkers Criminal Court. The case is being prosecuted by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.

Police said that no information will be released as to the identity of the student and details of the investigation will remain limited out of respect for the victim.

The Yonkers Police Department and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office are asking anyone with knowledge of criminal or suspicious conduct on the part of James Korwatch to contact Yonkers Police Department Detective Robert Metz at (914) 377-7725. All calls may remain confidential. Anonymous tips can be sent by texting the key word YPD plus the tip to CRIMES (274637); anonymous tips can also be sent to directly through the Yonkers Police website by clicking on the submit a tip button.