Man Convicted of Impersonating Education Official

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The New York Sun

A high-risk sex offender was convicted yesterday at Queens Supreme Court for impersonating a Department of Education official, illegally entering two public schools, and rifling through confidential student files at one of those schools.


Matthew Matagrano, 28, of Jackson Heights, a convicted sex offender who once applied to work for the Department of Education but was not hired, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary in the third degree for entering two schools in his neighborhood on May 4 to inspect student files, according to the office of Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.


“[Matagrano] had been an applicant who got hold of an ID and used this ID to gain access into schools,” said Marge Feinberg, spokeswoman for the Department of Education.


“He will never be hired by the DOE.”


Matagrano, who spent a year and four months in prison on a 1996 conviction for sexual abuse and sodomy, faces two to four years in prison on yesterday’s conviction before Acting Supreme Court Justice Dorothy Chin-Brandt.


Matagrano, who has also served time on a grand larceny conviction and was collecting Social Security at the time he was arrested, faces sentencing on October 12.


“The defendant has admitted his guilt, acknowledged that he unlawfully entered a school building with intent to commit a crime and waived his right to appeal,” said Mr. Brown, in a prepared statement.


“The prison term to be imposed by the court will punish the defendant for his criminality and protect children from harm.”


Matagrano, who is listed in the State Registry of Sex Offenders as a “high-risk” Level Three offender, entered two public schools while classes were in session: The Renaissance Charter School, serving K-12 students, and P.S. 212, serving K-5.


According to the district attorney’s office, Matagrano entered the schools and told officials that he was an inspector for quality assurance for the Department of Education. Matagrano wore a Department of Education ID card around his neck and signed a school ledger as an employee of the board. At The Renaissance Charter School, Matagrano was provided access to 11 confidential student files that he inspected for about three hours.


At P.S. 212, Matagrano asked the principal whether the school required supplies and computer software for student records, but he was denied access and told to come back later, according to the district attorney.


“The school is very pleased by today’s action, not only on its behalf, but on behalf of all the schools this gentleman could have accessed,” said George Shebitz, an attorney for The Renaissance Charter School.


Matagrano was arrested by a detective from the 115th Precinct the day after the incident. John Bernardino, principal of P.S. 212, declined to comment. Matagrano’s defense attorney, William Nicholas of Queens Law Associates, did not return a call from The New York Sun.


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