A 41-year-old special education teacher at a Midwood middle school was arraigned Thursday night on charges that he forced a 12-year-old student into a tight, inappropriate hug and asked her to spend the night with him. Emil Agaronov, who lives on Ocean Parkway in Gravesend, was arrested Wednesday night by NYPD detectives and now faces charges of endangering the welfare of a child and harassment.
Agaronov was taken into custody within the 84th Precinct in Downtown Brooklyn, though the alleged conduct occurred within the 70th Precinct, which covers Flatbush and Midwood, according to the Brooklyn Eagle. The arrest was carried out by the NYPD's Brooklyn Child Abuse Squad, a specialized unit that investigates crimes against minors. Agaronov worked as a special education teacher at Andries Hudde Middle School, also known as I.S. 240, according to the school's staff directory cited by Patch.
What the Criminal Complaint Alleges
According to a criminal complaint reported by the New York Post, Agaronov asked the 12-year-old girl for a hug around 10 a.m. on July 28 at the school, located in East Midwood. Per the complaint, he then hugged her so tightly that she felt his breast touch her chest and his belt buckle touch her stomach. Prosecutors say Agaronov also asked the girl to spend the night with him and told her he wanted a Latin wife, while a separate criminal filing states he said he liked Latin women and questioned whether the girl knew what “papi” meant.
The case highlights how New York's bail statutes treat this category of offense. Endangering the welfare of a child under Penal Law § 260.10 is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail, up to three years of probation, and court-ordered protection orders, according to state law records at NYS Open Legislation. The secondary harassment charge, under Penal Law § 240.26, is a non-criminal violation carrying a maximum of 15 days in jail and a $250 fine.
Why He Wasn't Held on Bail
Prosecutors requested supervised release, but the charges were not bail-eligible, per the Post's reporting. That outcome traces to Criminal Procedure Law § 530.20, which followed state bail reform legislation: because child endangerment as charged is a non-violent, non-qualifying Class A misdemeanor, judges are required to issue non-monetary securing orders such as supervised release or release on recognizance rather than set cash bail. Agaronov was ultimately released on his own recognizance in court Thursday night.
The NYPD has released Agaronov's photo in a plea for potential additional victims to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS, or the Spanish-language line at 1-888-57-PISTA, or the NYPD Sex Crimes hotline at 1-212-267-7273 or 1-646-610-7272. Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website or via X at @NYPDTips. The Brooklyn Child Abuse Squad coordinates such investigations through the department's Special Victims Division, according to the Brooklyn Eagle.
School Response and What Comes Next
Agaronov has been reassigned away from students, and the New York City Department of Education said it takes the allegations seriously and will pursue termination if the claims are substantiated. Under Education Law § 3020-a and DOE policy, tenured teachers facing misconduct charges are removed from student contact while formal administrative hearings determine whether there is “just cause” for termination, according to the United Federation of Teachers. That process runs separately from, and on a different timeline than, the criminal case now pending in Kings County.
Andries Hudde Middle School, at 2500 Nostrand Avenue in District 22, enrolled 389 students across grades 6 through 8 during the 2024–2025 school year, according to federal data from the National Center for Education Statistics. The school's enrollment has fallen by roughly a third over five school years as it shares its building with I.S. 381, per Public School Review. Agaronov is presumed innocent, and the criminal case remains pending.
