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CRAIG D.

APPLE
ACTING SHERIFF

WILLIAM C. COX
UNDERSHERIFF

MATTHEW J. CAMPBELL
CHIEF DEPUTY

PAUL M. Courcelle
CHIEF DEPUTY

ALBANY COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE


COUNTY COURT HOUSE ALBANY, NEW YORK 12207 (518) 487-5400 WWW.ALBANYCOUNTYSHERIFF.COM FAX: (518) 487-5037

PRESS RELEASE
December 21, 2011

The Albany County Sheriffs Office reports the arrest of a Voorheesville School District, Fifth Grade Teacher for Endanger the Welfare of a Child. The complaint alleges that Michael Guerette, age 50 of Voorheesville New York who is a Fifth Grade teacher at the Voorheesville Elementary School and the Boys Junior Varsity Soccer Coach, bit a female fifth grade student in the arm causing minor pain and bruising. The incident allegedly occurred on December 13, 2011 during classroom instructional time during which Guerette allowed a male fifth grade student to engage in arm wrestling with him. During the wrestling, other students including the victim became excited and were pulling and pushing on the childs arm who was wrestling Guerette trying to cause the student to win the arm wrestling match. During this ruckus the victim reached her arm across the desk in front of Guerette pulling on the hand of the student who was wrestling the teacher. Guerette opened his mouth and bit the female student in the forearm leaving what the student said were teeth marks. The bite mark eventually turned to bruising on the childs arm which was still visible 48 hours later when examined by school officials. The victim did not seek nor was she brought for medical attention by the teacher. At the end of the day, after students had left the building for the day, Mr. Guerette reported the incident to his principal which sparked an internal investigation by the School District. On Monday December 19, 2011, in accordance with the School Districts internal policies the Albany County Sheriffs Office was notified of the incident and a criminal investigation commenced. The Sheriffs investigation has not revealed any misconduct of a sexual nature. It does appear there may other incidents of inappropriate behavior and/or unprofessional comments made by Guerette which are being looked into by the Sheriffs Office. The Voorheesville School District is cooperating completely with the investigation and working closely with Sheriffs Deputies. Anyone who has witnessed or been subject of inappropriate behavior by Mr. Guerette is urged to contact the Sheriffs Office. Michael Guerette has been charged with a single count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A Misdemeanor and released on an appearance ticket. He is scheduled to arraigned on the charge in the Voorheesville Justice Court on January 16, 2011.

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