A Brooklyn teacher was arrested Wednesday after police say he sexually abused a 16-year-old student, triggering a string of criminal charges. Authorities identified the suspect as 48-year-old Steven Schnee. He is charged with forcible touching, endangering the welfare of a child, sexual abuse and harassment, according to police.
Police say Schnee was taken into custody on Wednesday and now faces the counts outlined by investigators, as reported by News 12. The outlet reported that it reached out to the Department of Education for comment. Local authorities have not released additional details about the school or the circumstances in their initial public reports.
Charges and investigation
Forcible touching is defined in New York Penal Law §130.52 and is prosecuted as a Class A misdemeanor. Under the statute, the offense can include acts such as squeezing, grabbing or pinching. Endangering the welfare of a child is set out in Penal Law §260.10 and applies when someone knowingly acts in a way that is likely to injure the physical, mental or moral welfare of a person under 17. The New York State Senate provides the statutory language for those offenses.
Citywide context
The arrest comes as New York City has moved to reopen a filing window under the Gender-Motivated Violence Act starting in March 2026, a step advocates say is intended to sharpen attention on institutional accountability for sexual abuse. amNewYork has covered the City Council’s action and the new lookback period.
Anyone with information, or potential victims seeking support, can contact the NYPD Sex Crimes Report Line at 1-212-267-RAPE (7273) or reach the NYC Family Justice Center in Brooklyn at 350 Jay Street; the city lists those resources online. NYC.gov provides contact information and an overview of available services.
