FORMER TEACHER’S AIDE SENTENCED TO A MAXIMUM TERM OF THREE YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR ENGAGING IN SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH TWO YOUNG BOYS

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a former teacher’s aide has been sentenced to a maximum term of up to three years imprisonment for having sexual relations with two students, young boys who were twelve and thirteen years old when the crimes were committed.

Tara McDermott, 24, of 1310 Balcom Road, the Bronx, pled guilty on September 23, 2002 to two counts of Rape in the 3rd degree. She was sentenced, by Acting State Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett, to serve one to three years in prison.

McDermott admitted that she had engaged in sexual intercourse with the young victims and had also performed oral sex on the two boys, in her bedroom in the house that she had shared with her parents. The incident occurred on June 8, 2001.

McDermott, in statements to investigators, said she had seduced the two boys out of anger over an alleged failed relationship with another minor, who declined to cooperate with the investigation. According to the defendant’s admissions to detectives, when that boy broke off the relationship with McDermott he also asked her not to have sex with his friends, the two boys who ultimately did press criminal charges.

McDermott had been employed as a teacher’s aide at Community School 211 in the East Tremont section of the Bronx for three years until she was fired following her arraignment on June 22, 2001.

Assistant District Attorney Cornelius O’Reilly prosecuted this case.