A Harlem middle school media specialist has been indicted on charges of sexually abusing three of his students, as announced by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Jr. Saneel Boodram, 48, faces charges including Sexual Abuse in the First and Second Degree, Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the Second Degree, and three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child following allegations that spanned from September 2022 to December 2024.
"As alleged, Saneel Boodram used his position at a public middle school to inappropriately touch and engage with at least three children," Bragg said, in a statement released by the Manhattan DA's Office. The DA's office is urging parents who think their child may have been victimized to come forward, highlighting they have a team with trauma-informed training ready to handle these investigations with the necessary care and sensitivity.
The court documents and statements made on the record in this case reveal that Boodram engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with multiple students over a course of two years. The encounters began when a child was just 11 years old. The alleged misconduct also includes Boodram sending a shirtless photo to a 13-year-old student and inviting her over to his house to use his pool.
Parents and guardians with concerns have been urged to contact the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. The DA's Office’s Child Abuse Bureau, which possesses specially trained professionals, is handling these investigations. Specifically, those associated with PS/IS 76 where Boodram had been employed since 2000 until his arrest in 2024 should call 212-335-4300. Assistant D.A. Gabrielle DeNaro, under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Heather Buchanan, is managing the prosecution.
The investigation continues as the legal process moves forward for Boodram and any potential additional victims.
