Police: Sachem Teacher Forcibly Touched Teen Girl, Woman at Fire Department Events

A 24-year-old Farmingville man who is a special education teacher in the Sachem School District is accused of forcibly touching two females, including a 15-year-old, at fire department events in Farmingville and Selden.

According to police, a 15-year-old girl reported that Justin Russo forcibly touched her on Saturday, Oct. 24 while at an event at the Farmingville Fire Department located at 1080 Portion Road in Farmingville.

Russo, who is a volunteer firefighter with the Farmingville Fire Department, was arrested on Saturday and charged with forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child.

Further investigations by Sixth Squad detectives revealed that on July 13, 2014, Russo also forcibly touched a 28-year-old woman at an event at the Selden Fire Department located at 44 Woodmere Place in Selden, police said. Russo was arrested for that incident at 10:55 p.m. Tuesday and charged with forcible touching, police said.

Russo was arraigned after his Saturday arrest and posted bail after his arrest on Tuesday. He pleaded not guilty.

According to Sachem Board of Education documents, Russo is a special education teacher assistant at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School. 

Russo took a leave of absence from the fire department and the Sachem School District placed him on administrative leave with pay following his initial arrest, according to a Newsday report.