Staten Island Teacher Guilty, Avoids Jail - Updated

(Staten Island, New York) In accordance with an agreement with the prosecution, teacher Danielle Johnsen, 30, pleaded guilty to attempted endangering of a 16-year-old girl.

Her lawyer, Leo Duval, said Ms. Johnsen did not admit to "anything of a sexual or physical nature" in entering her plea yesterday in Stapleton Criminal Court.

"She continues to maintain she had no inappropriate physical relationship with the student," Duval said today. "All she wants to do is put this matter behind her and get back to being with her family."

According to court documents, the incidents occurred three separate times last year. Ms. Johnsen "repeatedly" kissed the girl on the lips and touched her once inappropriately beneath her clothing, said court papers.

The alleged touching incident took place on March 13 of last year while the girl and Ms. Johnsen were watching a movie in the teacher's Port Richmond home, according to court records and a law enforcement source.

Ms. Johnsen and the girl also kissed on the lips on Feb. 16 and March 2, 2011, while the two were together, prosecutors contend.

In a separate civil lawsuit, the teen alleges Ms. Johnsen "repeatedly" told her, "I love you," and texted her "vulgar and sexually seductive and suggestive messages" along with "provocative and nude-picture messages" on "numerous occasions."

Johnsen was sentenced to 15 days community service.

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Staten Island Girls School Sex Scandal
[Previous 6/16/11 post]
(Staten Island, New York) A 29-year-old science teacher at an all-girls Catholic high school, Danielle Johnsen, has been accused of mixing it up with a 16-year-old student.

Johnsen faces charges of sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

On Feb. 16 and March 2, Johnsen and the straight-A student from the all-girls school on Grymes Hill locked lips while hanging out, according to court papers.

And, on March 13, Johnsen again kissed the girl and shoved her hand down the teen’s pants when they rendezvoused at Johnsen’s Jewett Avenue home in Port Richmond, court documents state.

The shocking affair first came to light after Johnsen called it off with the victim and the depressed teen took to blogging about her heartbreak on Tumblr, a social networking site, sources said.

Johnsen was booked and released without bail. An August court appearance has been scheduled.