'Revered' 3rd-grade teacher, 76, accused of 'astounding' serial sexual abuse of 56 children

A retired New York teacher is accused of molesting 56 children over several decades.

Thomas Bernagozzi, 76, was arrested on Dec. 21 and charged with two counts of sodomy and sexual conduct against a child involving two students. Bernagozzi – from the Long Island town of Babylon – faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted on both charges, according to Newsday.

One of the alleged victims was purportedly abused between 1997 and 2000 and the other between 1989 and 1991, according to the criminal complaint.

On Wednesday, Bernagozzi pleaded not guilty to sexually abusing two former students in Suffolk County.

However, there have been 45 civil lawsuits filed against Bernagozzi and the school district under the New York State Child Victims Act.

The New York State Child Victims Act – signed into law in 2019 – allows an alleged victim of child sex abuse to file a civil action up until that individual turns 55 years of age.

Since his arrest, 11 more alleged victims have come forward with allegations of child sex abuse against Bernagozzi. The alleged victims range in age from 4 to 8 years old.

Due to New York’s statute of limitations, only the recent cases involving the two alleged victims could be criminally prosecuted.

On Wednesday, prosecutors said in court that the Bay Shore School District knew about the child sex abuse accusations and "turned a blind eye," according to KABC-TV.

Steven Maloney – the superintendent of the Bay Shore School District – said on Tuesday, "Due to pending and ongoing litigation, the Bay Shore School District is unable to comment regarding this matter. The District remains committed to ensuring the safety, health, and wellbeing of all students."

The 56 alleged victims were children attending schools where Bernagozzi taught.

Bernagozzi was employed as a third-grade teacher at the Mary G. Clarkson Elementary School and Gardiner Manor Elementary School between 1970 and 2000. He retired in 2003 after working for the Bay Shore School District.

The New York Post reported, "While working for the district, Bernagozzi directed school plays and coached after-school sports. Outside work hours, he would take groups of children — mostly boys — to 'local beaches, pools, gym, Broadway shows and sporting events,' prosecutors said."

The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office said Bernagozzi was "allegedly revered by both fellow teachers and staff, as well as parents residing in the district who would specifically request that their children be placed in Bernagozzi’s class."

Prosecutors noted that his classes were "allegedly comprised predominantly of male children."

Robert Hubbard – one of the alleged victims who filed a civil lawsuit against Bernagozzi – said he was a student in 1976 and that his teacher would fondle him in the classroom and at baseball games.

"The sheer magnitude of what this defendant is alleged to have committed is astounding," said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney. "This defendant allegedly betrayed the trust of his students, their families, and the community. I urge anyone who has been abused to come forward to law enforcement no matter how long ago that abuse occurred. We will investigate thoroughly and seek to hold those responsible accountable for their conduct."

At Bernagozzi's arraignment, the Suffolk County DA requested that the former teacher be held on $1 million cash bail. However, Judge Edward J. Hennessey ordered him placed on supervised release with GPS conditions.

After 11 more alleged victims came forward this week, Judge Karen Wilutis set Bernagozzi’s bond at $300,000 cash and $600,000 bond.

Anyone with information about Bernagozzi is urged to contact the Suffolk County Police Department's Special Victims Section at 631-275-2302.

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