A Bronx charter school teacher, who was arrested on Friday after beating a 16-year-old student over a drug deal gone bad, also threatened the student's mom with rape, reports the New York Daily News.
John V. Lindsay Wildcat Academy instructor Kevin Pope was released without bail Saturday after being taken into custody for attacking the student on Wednesday of this week.
According to police, the incident comes months after Pope allegedly gave the student $4,000 to purchase approximately a pound of weed which he hoped to resell. When the student's supplier demanded $7,000, the deal was called off with the student allegedly walking away with Pope's cash.
The teacher encountered the student on Wednesday which resulted in a fight caught on camera showing the teacher striking the student, causing him to fall thorough a window and onto the street outside.
“You better get my money or I will kill you!” Pope told the student after the beating, walking away with the student's cell phone and wallet.
According to Assistant District Attorney Gerard Donahue, Pope threatened more than the student's life.
Pope “assaulted the victim by repeatedly striking him, causing him to fall into a window and onto a sidewalk. He made threats to having (the student’s) mother raped every day after work,” Donahue said in a statement.
According to Pope attorney Japel Filiaci, the student stole the science teacher's briefcase containing approximately $5,000.
Pope was charged with assault and robbery, with Judge Harold Adler issuing a restraining order requiring Pope to stay away from the victim and his mom, before releasing him without bail.
