Teacher's Aide Arrested for Rape of 4-Year-Old Boy

(Queens, New York) A 37-year-old teacher's aide at Veda's Learning World, Khemwatie Bedessie, was arrested yesterday for sexually abusing a 4-year-old boy. Bedessie faces charges of rape, endangering the welfare of a child, and six counts of first-degree sexual abuse.

According to Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, the boy complained of repeated sexual encounters to his parents who alerted the authorities. One source alleges that Bedessie molested the boy in the bathroom during nap time. It's reported that Bedessie confessed to the police in a videotaped statement and blamed the boy for "coming on to her."

Bedessie, a Guyanese immigrant, is currently in custody with the Child Abuse Squad at the Queens Child Advocacy Center and, if convicted, faces a possible 25 years in prison.


[Update 10/16/06]

Bedessie arraigned.


[Update 08/01/07]

Bedessie sentenced.