Merrick teacher pleads not guilty in rape of girl, 15

By ANDREW STRICKLER
A Nassau teacher and camp counselor accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girl used text messages and the social networking site MySpace to arrange a meeting with his alleged victim, Suffolk authorities said Wednesday.

The online relationship between Daniel Rothbard, 28, of Merrick, and the girl began several days before a police officer discovered them Tuesday having sex in a parked car, according to Det. Lt. Matt Sullivan of the Third Precinct.

Using the screen name "DJ" or "D to the J" and claiming to be 17 years old, Rothbard also communicated online with the girl's friends. "He was asking them online for sex," Sullivan said.

Rothbard is a math teacher at the Willow Road Elementary School in Franklin Square, where he has been employed for four years, according to a statement from Elizabeth Lison, superintendent of Valley Stream Union Free School District 13. The district is consulting with legal counsel regarding his employment, she said.

Rothbard also worked as a summer counselor for about 15 years at Rolling River Day School and Camp in East Rockaway.

"We are all in shock - his closest friends, his family. He has a lot of close friends here and it is amazing that not one of them had an inkling," said director Mark Goodman. The camp has fired him and sent letters to families recommending they ask their children whether anyone asked them "to keep a secret," Goodman said. "We certainly have no reason to think that anything happened at camp."

Rothbard was having sex with the 15-year-old about 8:25 p.m. Tuesday when the officer found the pair outside Westbrook Elementary School in West Islip, according to a Suffolk prosecutor. Police believe Rothbard and the girl met for the first time Tuesday.

"We believe there is every possibility that there are other victims," Sullivan said.

Rothbard pleaded not guilty in First District Court, Central Islip, to felony charges of rape, criminal sexual act and sexual abuse, as well as misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child.

By BY ANDREW STRICKLER
Posted Friday, July 24, 2009

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