QUEENS — A schools superintendent was arrested Tuesday for groping a coworker twice since last month, police and education officials said.
Lenon Murray, 56, who was the principal of P.S. 038 until becoming the superintendent of Queens School District 29 in 2007, first groped the woman on April 19, prosecutors said.
Murray, a 30-year veteran of the Department of Education, then came up behind her and grabbed her chest as she sat at her desk about noon on May 2, according to the Queens District Attorney's office.
The victim, whose name and age weren't immediately released, repeatedly told him to stop touching her, prosecutors said.
The woman also told investigators that Murray had similarly been groping her since 2013, but he wasn't immediately charged with any additional incidents, police said. Their investigation continues.
Murray was arrested Tuesday on forcible touching and sexual abuse charges, police said.
He was arraigned Tuesday night and released, and is due back in court on June 15, records show. If convicted, he faces up to a year behind bars, police said.
Murray, who has no disciplinary history and made $174,680 per year, was also fired on Tuesday, according to Department of Education spokeswoman Toya Holness.
"This alleged behavior is unacceptable and has no place in our schools. Mr. Murray's employment was immediately terminated and he was removed from payroll," Holness added.
Beverly Mitchell will serve as District 29's acting superintendent, Holness said.
