A teacher from New York has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for sexually abusing a 16-year-old student at a school for children with special needs, as reported by law enforcement officials.
Sandy Carazas-Pinez, age 36, received the extensive sentence along with five years of supervised release from US District Judge John P. Cronan on Friday. This follows her conviction for enticing a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activities, as stated by Jay Clayton, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, in an official announcement.
Between November 2022 and February 2023, Carazas-Pinez, a former public school educator, allegedly persuaded her student to believe they were involved in a romantic relationship, according to prosecutors.
She reportedly communicated with the boy via phone calls, texts, and video chats to organize sexual meetings and pressured him into live-streaming “sexually explicit conduct” during their video interactions, authorities claimed.
In one message discussing whether to end the relationship, Carazas-Pinez allegedly wrote, “I know for me it isn’t going to be easy; I will miss your kisses, hugs and everything,” which was uncovered during law enforcement’s review of the texts.
Originating from Bethel, Connecticut, the teacher referred to the live-stream sexual activities as “gifts,” according to prosecutor statements.
Carazas-Pinez even instructed the teenager to secure day passes from school to leave campus and meet her in various locations around the Bronx, Yonkers, and Staten Island for sexual encounters.
Additionally, she sent the minor sexually explicit photos and messages, continuously urging him to delete all communications soon after sending them.
<p“Sexual exploitation by educators deeply disturbs every New Yorker,” Clayton asserted in a statement.
“Sandy Carazas-Pinez violated her professional trust and coerced a 16-year-old into a sexual relationship through explicit messages and other manipulative actions,” he added.
“Such behavior, especially from a person of authority like a teacher, is absolutely unacceptable and will be dealt with severely.”
Carazas-Pinez, a mother of three, was dismissed from Biondi School, which is operated by the nonprofit organization Rising Ground, in March 2023.
Judge Cronan had previously detained Carazas-Pinez after she breached her bail conditions post-arrest.
Despite being barred from having unsupervised contact with minors, she sent an email to another student the day after he turned 18 to wish him a happy birthday.
This conduct was labeled “troubling” by her own attorney at that time.
