Former North Babylon teacher charged with student’s rape

by Tiffany Elliott

A former Spanish teacher from North Babylon High School was arrested by Nassau County Police September 2 and charged with raping a 15-year old female student in October 13, 2003 at an undisclosed Massapequa location.

Police said that Danny Rivera Cuesta, 29, of Folsom Lane, Coram was hired in September of 2001 by the district and resigned in June of 2003 before his initial probationary period was over, according to Dr. Randy Bos, Superintendent of the North Babylon School District.

"We didn’t think it was a school issue." said Bos when reached for a comment on the former teacher. "He resigned before his arrest." The District had no further comment.

According to Cuesta’s personnel file, he had not worked at any other schools prior to his being hired in North Babylon. When asked if the Cuesta resigned because of his imminent arrest, Bos said it was unclear according to the file and that he could could not speculate. Bos came to the district this summer, replacing former Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Micchiche.

The accused man’s wife, Melissa Cuesta said, "I support my husband," and added that the charge is false and the incident never took place.

The students name was not released in police reports due to the nature of the crime and the victim’s age.