Teacher charged with statutory rape of student

A New York City schoolteacher from Bay Shore was arrested Friday morning on charges that she had sexual relations in March with a 16-year-old male student.

Police say the teacher, Tara Driscoll, 33, of 17 Anna St., drove the male student to the Capri Lynbrook Motor Inn in Lynbrook on March 19 "and engaged in sexual relations with the victim," police said.

Driscoll, who teaches at the Queens school the boy attends, surrendered to detectives about 9 a.m. Friday. She's charged with performing a criminal sex act and third-degree rape -- New York's statutory rape law. The state age of consent is 17.

The teen's mother recently found out about the encounter and confronted her son, who admitted it, Nassau police said.

"We believe it to be a one-time deal," said Nassau police spokesman Det. Vincent Garcia. "She picked him up on the day and they drove" to the motel after having arranged to meet in Queens -- not his home and not at school, Garcia said.

Two law enforcement sources familiar with the case said video of the encounter was taken on the teen's cellphone.

The video -- along with an interview with the victim and phone records -- were used as evidence against Driscoll, authorities said.

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The teen is a student at Campus Magnet Educational Complex -- the former Andrew Jackson High School -- in the Cambria Heights section of Queens, where Driscoll has taught English since 2006.

City Education Department spokeswoman Marge Feinberg said Driscoll has been reassigned off campus to administrative duties. She earns $56,707 a year.

At Driscoll's arraignment Friday afternoon, Judge Martin J. Massell of First District Court in Hempstead set bail at $10,000 bond or $5,000 cash. Driscoll did not enter a plea.

Her defense attorney, Virginia A. LoPreto of Manhattan, said Driscoll had posted bail.

Driscoll's mother and sister rushed from the court without comment, and a woman at their home also wouldn't comment. The case is due back in court Aug. 15.

With Gary Dymski