LI Teacher Indicted After 'Repeated Sexual Acts' With Student, 16: DA

RIVERHEAD, NY — An audio production teacher for the Eastern Suffolk BOCES campus in Riverhead was indicted Tuesday — he was arrested and charged after repeatedly engaging in sexual intercourse with a female student he'd first had in his class when she was 15, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

According to the investigation, William Sperl, 60, of Deer Park reportedly met the girl when she was 15 years old and a student in his audio production class in 2019. He began communicating with the student through an application used by the school for teachers to communicate with students about assignments, Tierney said.

In 2020, when she was 16, Sperl allegedly began contacting the girl through her cellular phone, Tierney said. As the communication became flirtatious, he reportedly repeatedly requested that she send him intimate images and videos, Tierney said. In June 2020, Sperl allegedly began engaging in sexual acts with the girl, taking her to public parks to do so, Tierney said.

On several occasions, Sperl allegedly had sexual intercourse with the girl on an otherwise empty school bus while it was on school grounds, Tierney said. The girl, who is now 19 years old, recently reported the abuse to police after realizing what Sperl did was wrong, and out of concern for other potential victims, Tierney said.

On Tuesday Sperl was arraigned on the indictment before County Court Judge Karen M. Wilutis on charges including seven counts of third-degree rape, felonies; seven counts of third-degree criminal sexual act, felonies; one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor; and five counts of third-degree sexual abuse, misdemeanors, the DA said.

He pleaded not guilty.

Judge Wilutis continued the bail that was previously set for Sperl in the amount of $150,000 cash, $300,000 bond, or $1.5 million partially secured bond, the DA said.

Sperl has since posted bail, and the court imposed supervised release by probation and required that he surrender his passport, officials said. Sperl is due back in court on October 31, and is being represented by attorney John LoTurco.

"Mr. Sperl has faithfully and professionally served his community for decades, as a beloved teacher and deacon," LoTurco said. "At this point in the proceedings, our law firm will closely scrutinize the district attorney's evidence to evaluate our next course of action on behalf of our client."

David Wicks, district superintendent of Eastern Suffolk BOCES, issued a statement after the arrest: "Eastern Suffolk BOCES is aware that one of its employees was arrested by the Suffolk County Police Department yesterday during the staff member's attendance at an on-campus professional development activity." He was at the meeting at the BOCES campus in Bellport at the time of his arrest, police said.

No students were on the campus grounds at the time, Wicks said.

"According to Suffolk County Police, the arrest was made in connection with allegations of the staff member engaging in a sexual relationship with a now-former BOCES student in 2020. This is an ongoing police matter. Eastern Suffolk BOCES is fully cooperating with the Suffolk County Police Department as it conducts its investigation," Wicks said.

He added: "Eastern Suffolk BOCES has taken immediate measures to mitigate any disruption or distraction at the start of the school year next week. Among other things, the teacher will be placed on home assignment and all classes will move forward with qualified BOCES instructors to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted start of the school year for all students."

Eastern Suffolk BOCES’ crisis team is available to support our students, faculty, staff and community with any concerns, Wicks said.

"The safety of our students, faculty, staff and community is Eastern Suffolk BOCES' foremost priority. Eastern Suffolk BOCES will provide its community with an update as more details that can be shared become available," Wicks said.

"This defendant allegedly used his role as an educator to prey on a student for his own sexual desires," said Tierney. "The safety of children in our schools and community is a non negotiable priority and this kind of abuse will not be tolerated."

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