11 More Potential Victims Of Former Bay Shore Teacher Identified

BAY SHORE, NEW YORK —Eleven additional former students are among newly identified potential victims of a retired Bay Shore elementary school teacher who has been charged with sexual crimes against children, prosecutors said.

Thomas Bernagozzi, 75, of Babylon, was arraigned on a grand jury indictment Wednesday after being arrested in December and charged with two counts of sodomy and sexual conduct against a child involving two students, according to prosecutors.

The additional eleven students were "among witnesses interviewed since [Bernagozzi's] arrest," prosecutors said.

Bernagozzi, who taught elementary school in Bay Shore for years, was not only a beloved teacher but also is alleged to have run school plays and after-school sports, and would, on his own time, take groups of children to the local beaches, pools, gym, Broadway shows and sporting events, the DA's office previously said.

"The sheer magnitude of what this defendant is alleged to have committed is astounding," Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said in a statement in December. "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."

According to the investigation, Bernagozzi worked as a third-grade teacher at the Mary G. Clarkson Elementary School and Gardiner Manor Elementary School between 1970 and 2000, but was employed by the Bay Shore Union Free School District until 2003.

During his tenure, the DA's office alleged, Bernagozzi was 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. His classes were allegedly comprised predominantly of male children, the DA's office said.

Prosecutors also allege that Bernagozzi ran the school’s plays, after school sports, and would, on his own time, take groups of children to the local beaches, pools, gym, Broadway shows and sporting events, the DA's office said.

Prosecutors alleged that one of the victims was abused by Bernagozzi between 1997 and 2000, and the other was abused by Bernagozzi between 1989 and 1991.

The New York State Child Victims Act, signed into law in 2019, allows any victim who was abused while under the age of 18 to file a civil action up until that person turns 55 years of age, the DA's office said.