By Jonann Brady
Baldwin students were shocked in January when Vodicka, 36, of Syosett, was accused of sexual abuse by a former student, who came forward with the allegations three years after the abuse, when she was 19. Last Wednesday, in front of Nassau County Court Judge Donald Belfi, Vodicka admitted sending a series of sexually suggestive e-mails to the then-16-year-old between February and April of 2000.
The e-mails in question contained no photographs, but were more of a narrative or conversation, say prosecutors. Assistant District Attorney Gregg Turkin compared their contents to something out of "Penthouse Forum."
Vodicka was originally charged with six counts of felony first-degree dissemination of indecent material to a minor and four misdemeanor counts of third-degree sexual abuse for "inappropriately touching" the student. Under the agreement, Vodicka pleaded to one count of second-degree dissemination of indecent material to a minor, an E felony.
At his sentencing on June 25, Vodicka, who has no prior criminal record, will receive five years' probation and be required to surrender his teacher's license, say prosecutors. He has been on administrative leave since January and will be fired from his job at Baldwin High School, according to prosecutors. Vodicka taught in Baldwin for nine years. School officials declined to comment.
Vodicka will also be place on the state's Sex Offender Registry. At this point, he is considered a level one offender, said Turkin, which means he will remain on the registry for at least 10 years but there will be no community notification involved.
Vodicka's attorney, Stephen Scaring, declined to comment.
