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A veteran Queens high school principal was arrested for fondling two female teachers in a series of creepy incidents — and was promptly reassigned by the city.
William Bassell, 66, the longtime principal of Academy of American Studies, was arrested May 27 on charges of forcible touching and five counts of sexual abuse in the third degree, according
to a criminal complaint obtained by The Post.
Bassell allegedly “grazed his hand” over the inner thigh of a woman “without her consent” in four different incidents in 2023 and 2024, according to the complaint filed with Queens District
Attorney Melinda Katz’s office.
In a fifth incident on June 6 last year, Bassell allegedly got out of his car and stood in front of a woman and prevented her from leaving and then “grazed his hand against her neck and her
breast, over her clothes, without her consent,” the complaint said.
The two victims were two teachers at the school, a law enforcement source said.
Bassell was replaced as principal and city Department of Education brass were scheduled to hold an emergency meeting later Monday to discuss the bombshell arrest.
“We do not tolerate inappropriate behavior of any kind and we take these allegations very seriously,” a DOE spokesperson said.
“While we cannot comment on the specifics of this situation, we are addressing the matter urgently.”
Bassell, who previously served as principal of Long Island City High School, turned himself in at the 112th Precinct special victims unit. He has been reassigned by the city pending the
outcome of the case.
Bassell received a prestigious National Arts Awards honor from Americans for the Arts – a prominent cultural nonprofit – in 2004 for his work arts education.
He was presented with the Special Arts Education Recognition Award by Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of former President John F. Kennedy.
“One of the gifts that Bill Bassell has is that excitement about learning and sharing,” she said in an accompanying video that laudatory praise from students and his fellow educators at Long
Island City High School.
Other honorees include Hillary Clinton, Alec Baldwin, Lady Gaga and Martin Scorcese.
Bassell has also been politically involved in his community. He previously ran to serve on the Pelham Manor village board of trustees in Westchester County.
His attorney denied the allegations and said they came from “two disgruntled employees.”
“Principal Bassell has dedicated his 45 year career in education, 31 years of which as a principal, to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive educational environment,” lawyer Kendra
Monte said in a statement.
“He maintains his innocence and is fully cooperating with any and all investigations to ensure the truth is brought to light.
Monte called Bassell a “tireless public servant and family man, married to his high school sweetheart.”
“We categorically and unequivocally deny these baseless and vindictive allegations manufactured by two disgruntled employees whom also maintain a friendship outside of their employments,”
the attorney said. “We are confident that the District Attorney, upon an examination of these charges and allegations will fully exonerate Principal Bassell.”