A former city prosecutor turned religious school teacher, Daniel Haines, has been charged with raping a 13-year-old girl and exchanging sexually explicit photos and videos with her. The abuse allegedly took place over multiple occasions between April 2022 and April 2023 when the victim was in 7th and 8th grade. Haines was arrested on May 17th and is accused of committing acts of forcible rape against the victim. The abuse occurred at Mt. Carmel-Holy Rosary in East Harlem, where Haines was a teacher at the time.
The principal of Mt. Carmel, Trista Rivera, sent an email to parents informing them of the allegations against Haines and urging them to contact the Manhattan DA’s child abuse bureau if their children had any contact with him. The Archdiocese of New York expressed cooperation with the investigation into the allegations. Parents expressed confusion and worry as to why Haines left Mt. Carmel and whether the victim was a student at the school.
Haines previously worked as a prosecutor in the Bronx and Brooklyn District Attorney’s offices, handling major gang and drug cases. He then took a position at Mt. Carmel, where he stayed until the end of the 2022-23 school year. Despite complaints from parents regarding his behavior as a teacher, Haines continued to work at the school. He later joined the Heschel School, a Jewish day academy on the Upper West Side, where he taught middle grades, coached basketball, and mock trial.
The Heschel School stated that all alleged misconduct by Haines occurred before his arrival at the school and that there were no known allegations of criminal or inappropriate conduct within the Heschel community. Haines underwent reference and criminal background checks before being hired. The school placed him on leave and terminated his access to their systems and buildings upon learning of his arrest. Haines pleaded not guilty and was released on $350,000 cash bail.
The case has raised concerns about the safety of students in educational settings and the vetting process for teachers. The allegations against Haines have sparked discussions about the need for stricter background checks and monitoring of teachers’ behavior, particularly in schools. Parents are calling for increased transparency and accountability from schools to ensure the safety and well-being of their children. The legal proceedings against Haines are ongoing, and the outcome of the case will likely have significant implications for the educational community.
