Teacher from Forest Hills Pleads Guilty to Statutory Rape: Queens DA

A public school teacher at a Flushing school who lives in Forest Hills has pleaded guilty to the statutory rape of a former female student at his home, the Queens district attorney said.  

Daniel Reilly, 36, who taught sixth grade English at Flushing’s I.S. 237 pleaded guilty on Monday before Queens Criminal Court Judge Suzanne Melendez to second-degree rape, Queens DA Richard Brown said.  

The defendant, who lives on Yellowstone Boulevard in Forest Hills, will be sentenced on July 22. Melendez is expected to give Reilly six months in jail and 10 years’ probation.  

He will also be required to surrender his teaching license and register with the state as a sex offender.  

“The defendant has admitted to sexually taking advantage of one of his former students – a 14-year-old girl,” Brown said. “As a teacher and an adult, the defendant was in a position of power to know better. Children should be able to remain children. This case should serve as a clear and unmistakable warning that law enforcement is prepared under any circumstances to apprehend and prosecute sexual predators who betray and defile youngsters.”  

Reilly admitted to engaging in sexual intercourse with the former student at his Forest Hills home in April.  

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.