QUEENS — A former special education teacher was arrested after trying to solicit sex from an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old girl in Forest Hills on Friday, according to the Queens District Attorney.
Christopher Tselios, 28, who worked as a substitute teacher for the city until 2015, posted a Craigslist ad that he was seeking “fun with a teen high school or younger,” the DA’s office said.
The undercover officer responded on July 26 that she was 14 and traded pictures with him before Tselios offered to pay $500 to perform oral sex on her, prosecutors said.
“This case underscores the crucial importance of internet surveillance initiative by law enforcement to protect children from sexual predators. This case, and the many others my office has prosecuted, should serve as a warning to parents that they must closely monitor their children’s internet activities,” said District Attorney Richard Brown.
“Despite the numerous publicized arrests for exactly this type of alleged behavior, sexual predators continue to relentlessly scour the internet for victims. Do not let your child become one of them,” the top prosecutor added.
The two made plans to meet a Forest Hills restaurant at about 11 p.m. Friday, prosecutors said. The undercover arrived and waited inside until just before midnight when Tselios walked in and told her “let’s go,” according to the DA’s office.
He then led the officer back to his car where he was arrested, officials said.
Investigators also found $500 in cash on him, officials said.
Tselios, who was scheduled to leave for South Korea to teach kindergarten this week, was arraigned on Saturday on charges including attempted criminal sexual act, attempted dissemination of indecent material to minors and patronizing a prostitute, prosecutors said.
His lawyer did not respond to an immediate request for comment.
He was released Saturday on $50,000 bail and is due back in court on Aug. 12, records show.
Department of Education officials didn't immediately provide further information.
