Brooklyn elementary school teacher accused of sexually abusing young girls linked to 4 more incidents

FLATBUSH (WABC) -- A Brooklyn elementary school teacher has been linked to four more assaults of young girls aged eight through 11, authorities say.

Science teacher Omil Carrasquillo was arraigned in Brooklyn Monday morning. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $200,000 bail. Carrasquillo is due back in court Feb. 6th.

He was originally charged with groping five female students, but has now been linked to inappropriately touching nine students at P.S. 249 in Brooklyn since last year.

The alleged incidents happened at Public School 249 in Kensington.

"This is a disturbing case in which a teacher allegedly groped young girls," said Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson. "This defendant is an alleged predator who surrounded himself with vulnerable victims. What should have been a safe haven instead became a parent's worst nightmare. We will now seek to vindicate the rights of these children."

Police say Carrasquillo, 36, sexually abused five girls between 9 and 11 years old inside the school from late 2013 to as recently as September, when police say a student came forward.

As soon as the school was notified about one incident that reportedly happened in September, they immediately launched an investigation.

They say the incidents involved inappropriate touching and rubbing.

In September, a judge issued five orders or protection and told Carrasquillo to stay away from the little girls.

The Department of Education released a statement saying, "These allegations are disturbing, and we removed Mr. Carrasquillo immediately: He is not near any students. We are investigating the matter and supporting this school community."

Carrasquillo was fired. He is charged with sex abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. He worked for the DOE since 2006.

Authorities say he hugged, touched and rubbed the breasts and backsides of the girls.

One parent was stunned to hear the allegations, saying Carrasquillo has been very helpful with her children.

"So good, so good. He's a good person. For me, I'm very surprised. Something happened, I don't know," said the parent, Meaiy Arias.

Another parent who lives near PS 249 has a 9-year old girl.

"It's scary, sometimes we use the school playground to play. This has to be investigated, this is unacceptable," said the parent, Ilea Nievis-Hogue.

The prosecutor spoke about two of the alleged victims. "The complainant witness is inappropriately touched on two separate occasions, a different complainant witness is touched inappropriately once or twice a month," he said.

Carrasquillo lives in Selden, Long Island, is married and has a 7-year old son. "I would never have expected that. I mean they seem like a normal, happily married couple," said neighbor Louis Delborrello.

The suspect's attorney touched on his military background, explaining why his client, who was in the Army, is not a flight risk.

"Because when our country was in war, when our country was in trouble, Mr. Carrasquillo, he ran to the problem, he went voluntarily and willingly, and that's how he chooses to fight this case," said attorney Gregory Esposito.