Ex-Teacher Accused of Statutory Rape Could Drop Plea

A former public school teacher from Forest Hills who recently pleaded guilty to statutory rape charges is weighing whether to drop his plea, his lawyer said.

Daniel Reilly, 36, who taught sixth grade English at Flushing’s I.S. 237, pleaded guilty in May to having sex with a student at his Forest Hills home, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.

But Reilly’s attorney, Eric Franz, said Reilly might consider dropping his plea, but that no definite decision has been made.

“We’re just trying to see what steps he can take to ensure that he can raise his infant child,” Franz said.

Reilly, who will return to court on Aug. 19, has already surrendered his teaching license and registered with the state as a sex offender, Franz said.

The case came about when the victim’s sister saw sexually explicit text messages on her phone, the DA said. The victim’s family went to the school and met with personnel, who notified the city’s special commissioner of investigation.