Hartsdale resident Michael Rubino, age 63, was arrested in connection with an incident at Hastings High School in June involving the unwanted touching and kissing of an underage student, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office announced on Wednesday, Sept. 11.
According to the DA’s Office, at around 10:15 a.m. on Monday, June 10, Rubino, who taught music with Hastings public schools for over 20 years, took the student to the school auditorium. He then pulled them behind the curtains and hugged and kissed them without their consent, officials said.
The DA’s Office added that after allegedly rubbing the student’s back and kissing their cheek and neck, he then tried kissing them on the lips.
The student went on to immediately report the incident to a teacher, who told administrators about it the same day. The district then proceeded to report the incident to the Village of Hastings-on-Hudson Police Department and put Rubino on administrative leave pending a criminal investigation.