LI Driver's Education Teacher Committed Lewd Act: Police

HUNTINGTON, NY — A Bay Shore man accused of making a lewd act in front of a child during a driving instruction course in Huntington was arrested Friday, Suffolk police said.

Jeffrey Hinch, 29, who was employed by the East Meadow Driving School, at 2900 Hempstead Turnpike, Levittown, was arrested by Special Victims Section detectives, police said. A complaint was made by a 16-year-old girl that Hinch committed a sexual act, police said.

The girl reported that Hinch picked her up from her home in Huntington for a driving instruction course on Tuesday, police said. During the lesson, the girl saw Hinch commit a lewd act, police said. The girl was then returned home without further incident, police said.

Hinch was charged with public lewdness and endangering the welfare of a child. He was due to be held overnight at the Seventh Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Saturday.

The investigation is continuing. Anyone who believes they may be a victim of Hinch was asked to, by police, contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-8477 or 911.