A Queens teacher was busted Friday for sending lurid photos and videos of himself to a 15-year-old former student — and asking her to do the same, cops said.
Michael Cognato, 35, who worked at Intermediate School 93 in Ridgewood, allegedly began sending the girl naked pictures of himself over the summer.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said Cognato’s victim was his student while she was in the eighth grade, but the two remained in contact.
Following her graduation from the school, Cognato tutored her and communicated with her via Facebook messaging and Skype.
Cognato quickly went from paragon to pervert as he began sending indecent pictures and videos of himself masturbating, officials said.
He then convinced the girl to send him nude pictures of herself.
Police charged Cognato, of Bethpage, L.I., with using a child in a sexual performance, promoting a sexual performance by a child and acting in a manner injurious to a child after the teen’s mother contacted cops.
His arraignment was pending Friday.
Education Department officials said Cognato began working as a teacher at IS 93 in 2001. He has no disciplinary history.
Cognato continues to draw his salary of $82,995 while Education Department officials work to take him off payroll, a process that can take anywhere from days to weeks or even longer.
Meanwhile, Education Department spokesman Michael Aciman said that Cognato has been given a new assignment performing administrative duties in a central Education Department office.
“These alleged actions are deeply disturbing and have absolutely no place in our schools,” Aciman said.
“This individual was immediately removed from the school and reassigned away from students, and we will pursue removing him from payroll,” he added.
Brown said Cognato sent the teen at least 15 videos of himself masturbating between August and October and that she sent a similar number of videos of herself.
“This case should serve as a clear and unmistakable warning that law enforcement is prepared to apprehend and prosecute sexual predators,” Brown said.
