HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AVOIDS JAIL – HAD AFFAIR WITH STUDENT

Cheryl Reyna, a 32 year old married teacher at Martin Luther High School in Maspeth, has been busted for carrying on a seven month lesbian romance with a 16 year old student.  The Spanish teacher was arraigned March 15 in Queens Criminal Court on charges of sodomy, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.  She has been suspended without pay from her job.  She was free on $1,500 bail.  Reyna allegedly began having sex with the girl in August 2003, when the student was 16.  The relationship began to blossom last spring, during a school trip Reyna led to Spain.  Police believe the girl, a 17 year old senior, spent a lot of time at Reyna's Maspeth house but covered up her whereabouts by telling her parents she had to stay late at her after school job.

Reyna lost her job but not her freedom yesterday after admitting to the affair with the student.  She received three years' probation and gave up her teaching license in exchange to a guilty plea.

(New York)