A math instructor was sacked from Xavier High School, a respected private institution in Chelsea, New York, in a shocking occurrence that has sent shockwaves across the educational community. The teacher, named as Matthew Chicas, is accused of attempting to videotape an 11-year-old kid using the lavatory. The event, which allegedly occurred on April 15, resulted in Chicas being charged with a crime and being fired from his teaching post.
Chicas, 29, worked as a math teacher at Xavier High School until the alleged incident was discovered. Chicas has pleaded not guilty to counts of unauthorized surveillance, possessing a sexual performance by a child, and endangering the welfare of a child, according to court documents. According to the alarming charge, he attempted to record video footage of the young pupil from an adjacent toilet stall using his cell phone.
Chicas was a math teacher at Xavier High School at the time of the alleged occurrence. He also participated in the REACH leadership program and a Jesuit preparatory class for middle school students at Regis High School on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
Chicas was suspended from Xavier High School shortly following his arrest in April. The school notified parents of the situation via email, stating that Chicas was “no longer employed” by the institution. Chicas’ contract was not renewed following his suspension, according to the school’s president, Jack Raslowsky, effectively cutting his links with the school.
Chicas’ court hearing was recently held, and he was released when the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office declared that the charges were not bailable. The following information is contained in the court documents: The victim, an 11-year-old pupil, visited the school’s fourth-floor restroom and spotted someone moving in the stall next to him. The student claims to have seen a cell phone with a black camera hanging over the wall, aiming downward into his cubicle.
The alleged event has resulted in both criminal charges and legal proceedings against the school. Olaya Lopez, the victim’s mother, is reportedly suing Xavier High School over the incident.
Xavier High School is well-known in the New York educational environment, with noteworthy alumni like TV weatherman Al Roker, writer and lawyer Greta Van Susteren, and baseball star Jeff Bagwell. The community is especially concerned because of the institution’s reputation and past.
Chicas is set to appear in court again on September 13. Donald Vogelman, his lawyer, claimed that his client maintains his innocence and is looking forward to his day in court. As this heartbreaking case unfolds, it serves as a sharp reminder of educators’ duties in safeguarding the safety and well-being of their pupils, while also emphasizing the gravity of charges of such misbehavior inside educational settings.