Manhattan Teacher Charged with Student Rape

A teacher at a Catholic School in Manhattan yesterday was accused of committing sex crimes against two of his students.

Richard Ali, 27, was charged with statutory rape and sexual abuse of two students whom he taught at the all-girl Cathedral High School on the east side of Manhattan, according to the Queens district attorney, Richard Brown.

Mr. Ali allegedly had sex with one of the students while parked outside Long Island City High School in January, according to the criminal complaint filed at the Queens district attorney's office.

An investigation of Mr. Ali was launched after one of the alleged victims spoke to a guidance counselor.

Mr. Ali, who taught science at the school for four years, was fired, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York, Joseph Zwilling, said yesterday.

If convicted, Mr. Ali faces up to four years in prison, the Queens district attorney's office said.