LIC High School Teacher Had Sex With Student, Investigators Find

ASTORIA, QUEENS — A Long Island City High School teacher resigned after an investigation found he had sex with one of his students and plied others with money, gifts and inflated grades, investigators announced Thursday.

Math teacher Peter Muhlbach, 53, had inappropriate relationships with his female students, including a five-year sexual relationship with one woman that began when she was a student, according to a report by the independent Special Commissioner of Investigation for the New York City School District.

"The actions and behaviors of Mr. Muhlbach are completely unacceptable and they clearly demonstrate his abuse of authority as a teacher," Special Commissioner of Investigation Anastasia Coleman said in a statement.

The investigation started in December 2018 following an anonymous complaint that Muhlbach had an inappropriate relationship with an unnamed student, the report says.

Muhlbach declined to be interviewed by investigators, according to the report.

Investigators found that the inappropriate behavior dated back at least to the 2014-2015 school year, when Muhlbach gave a student alcohol and marijuana and they started a sexual relationship. The student told investigators she moved in with the teacher after she graduated, and he gave her a credit card and free use of his car, the report says.

Students also said Muhlbach "gave girls money for no reason," altered their grades and flirted with female students during class and over text messages and social media.

"If you were pretty and a girl, Muhlbach would offer to give you 'whatever grade' you wanted," one student told investigators, according to the report.

Muhlbach was suspended during the investigation and resigned from his position effective Sept. 1.