ALBANY – A former teacher at LaSalle School in Albany has been indicted
on charges that she raped one of her students.
Marina Viviani, 30, of Kingston, was charged with having sex with one
of her adolescent pupils at the school that serves adolescent boys and
their families and is licensed by the state Office of Children and Family
Services.
Viviani was charged with rape and criminal sexual act, both as felonies,
and four misdemeanor charges of sex crimes.
She is accused of engaging in oral sex and sexual intercourse with her
student in a LaSalle classroom shortly before the student’s discharge
from a residential program.
The abuse allegations came to light after she allegedly continued a relationship
with the student, which included phone calls, text messages, the exchange
of digital photos and travel to New York City.
A family member notified the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, which
reported the incident to the New York State Justice Center’s Vulnerable
Persons Central Register.
The alleged crimes took place between November and December 2014.
“When a licensed professional, like the defendant who in this case
was a teacher, allegedly abuses her position of authority by committing
sex crimes in the classroom against an at-risk youth, that abuse cannot
be tolerated,” said Special Prosecutor Patricia Gunning.
Viviani was released from Albany County Court under the supervision of
the Albany County Department of Probation.
