The Roslyn School District has been rocked by yet another scandal---this one involving the welfare of one of its students.

On Tuesday, Dec. 12, Nassau County Police arrested Timoteo Rodriguez, 29 of Great Neck and charged him with third degree rape, disseminating indecent material to a minor and endangering the welfare of a child.

According to police, the incident involved a 15-year-old Roslyn High School student, whose name is being withheld.

Police said the alleged incident took place on Saturday evening, Dec. 2 at an apartment on Knightsbridge Road in Great Neck, one that belonged to an acquaintance of the defendant.

The defendant, police added, met the victim at Roslyn High School, where he was employed as a substitute teacher and she as a student. On Dec. 12, Rodriguez was arrested at his Great Neck residence, police said.

The rape charges against the defendant are a Class E felony. The penalty for a conviction is up to four years in prison.

The defendant was arraigned on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at First District Court in Hempstead. The Nassau County District Attorney's office said that bail was set at $100,000.

According to Roslyn School District officials, Rodriguez was suspended without pay once the accusation was brought to the attention of the high school staff on Wednesday, Dec. 6.

At the same time, administration officials immediately notified both the Nassau County Police Department and Child Protection Services about the alleged incident.

"The school district is deeply concerned about the welfare of the student," district officials said in a statement. "As this is now a police matter, and out of concern for the privacy of the family, no additional information will be released by the district about the student or any specifics about the case. Since an arrest has been made, any updates on the case will be made by the police department or district attorney's office."

"Every new employee of the district who has contact with children, including the subject employee, is required, by state law, to undergo a criminal background check through fingerprinting, whether full-time, part-time, permanent or temporary," the school district release added. "The school district conducted a background check on this individual in accordance with required guidelines and procedures; no prior criminal activity was uncovered."

The defendant was not only a resident of Great Neck, he was also employed in the Great Neck School District. And so, Great Neck officials felt beholden to make their own comments on the arrest.

"We are all very saddened. He went to South High and was an outstanding player in his time," said Bernard Kaplan, principal of Great Neck North High School.

Kaplan said the defendant coached North High's junior varsity boys' soccer team in the fall of 2006.

"North did all the appropriate checks and he was fully vetted," Kaplan said. "He had no criminal past and no history."

While coaching at North High, the defendant, Kaplan said, "did a very credible job. He did a fine job. He coached well and he was fully supervised. There was never any indication of anything untoward. His behavior toward students was appropriate. He acted appropriately. If he is exonerated, he would be considered for coaching again."

Kaplan added that if he is guilty, he would never be allowed near his school again.

"We learned Wednesday (Dec. 13) of the Roslyn substitute teacher who was arrested regarding an alleged sexual assault," said Ronald Friedman, superintendent of the Great Neck Public Schools. "This person, a former Great Neck student, had worked for us during this past fall as a boys' soccer coach at North High. His credentials were all in order, and he had received a clear criminal background check from the state prior to his employment. He is no longer on staff."

--Wendy Kreitzman contributed to this story.