STATEN ISLAND PERV-TEACH VICTIM SUES CHURCH

PFMLIT COACH, FEMALE SEX OFFENDERS AND OTHERS, General, SEX OFFENDERS AND OTHERS IN POSITIONS OF TRUST, TEACHERS SCHOOL STAFF

Lynn Saunders, a 38 year old teacher, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 12 year old girl and was freed with a slap on the wrist.  The girls father exploded at Saunders on June 15, 2005, saying, You stole something personal and precious from my daughter!  Saunders, who worked as a basketball coach at St. Paul's, a Catholic school in the New Brighton section of Staten Island, had pleaded guilty to sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child in exchange for six years' probation.  She was charged with seducing her student in February, then taking her to see the Will Smith movie Hitch, where she kissed the girl and groped her thigh.  Later, according to court papers, the teacher took the girl to her own home, where they groped each other.  

The family of the girl has sued the New York Archdiocese for unspecified money damages.

(New York)