Education | Law | National

Teacher in Onondaga school abuse case on trial

Thursday, July 26, 2007

A New York man accused of sexually molesting more than a dozen girls at the Onondaga Nation School is on trial.

Albert Scerbo, 45, was charged with endangering the welfare of 17 female students and sexually abusing 16 of them. But the judge has dismissed charges involving four of the girls, due to insufficient and contradictory evidence.

The testimony of the remaining witnesses has been problematic as well, according to the judge. One girl gave conflicting time periods of when she was allegedly abused. Another initially told a grand jury that she wasn't molested.

The three initial accusers, all 10 years old, apparently told the school nurse about the alleged abuse a day after one of them called Scerbo a "white Christian cracker" in class. Scerbo was reportedly angered by the incident.

Scerbo has said he is the victim of character assassination. He has suggested the girls were coached by Onondaga clan mothers.

Get the Story:
Teacher called name before molestation allegations made, girl says (The Syracuse Post-Standard 7/26)
Some Charges Dismissed in Molestation Trial (The New York Times 7/26)
pwnyt

Relevant Links:
Onondaga Nation School - http://www.onondaganationschool.org