Queens Music Teacher Arrested for Alleged Sexual Abuse of 12-year-old Student

By Laura Dimon And Ben Chapman
New York Daily News
January 16, 2017

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/queens-music-teacher-arrested-alleged-assault-12-year-old-article-1.2947719

The 69-year-old teacher is being accused of abusing his piano student four years ago, when she was 12. (ADAMKAZ/GETTY IMAGES)

A Queens music teacher was arrested for sexually abusing a girl while giving her singing and piano lessons at her home when she was 12 years old, police said Monday.

Rafael Diaz, 69, was arrested Saturday and charged with sex abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. Diaz was music director for the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, where his victim was a student.

Sources said the girl’s family made arrangements for her to receive private lessons at home, where the alleged abuse occurred.

Diaz was charged with sexual conduct against a child less than 13, sexual abuse in the first degree and acting in a manner injurious to a child under 17.

Police said Diaz touched his victim several times four years ago when she was 12 while giving her piano and singing lessons.

A Diocese of Brooklyn spokesman said it contacted the NYPD and Diaz was "terminated upon his arrest."

The alleged victim’s father came to the church and reported that Diaz had sexually abused his daughter on Thursday, church officials said.

Church officials immediately contacted police and Diaz’s employment was terminated upon his arrest, the spokesman said.

As of Monday night, Diaz was being held by police on $35,000 bond. A woman who answered the phone at his residence said she hadn’t seen him in days.

“I don’t know anything about it,” said the woman, who wouldn’t give her name.