The Danish pre-school intern accused of molesting more than a dozen tots in his charge at the posh International Preschool wept when Manhattan prosecutors Thursday dropped the charges against him.
Malthe Thomsen, 22, was arrested last June for allegedly molesting 13 children that were 4 and 5 years old after a troubled teacher’s assistant at the East 45th Street school reported the allegations to authorities.
“Your Honor, at this time, the people move to dismiss this case,” said Assistant District Attorney Rachel Ferrari, prompting Thomsen to sob.
“After a careful and thorough evaluation of the evidence gathered in our extensive investigation, we have determined that we cannot prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Photo: Steven Hirsch
Investigators interviewed 13 alleged victims and 12 of them denied they were ever touched inappropriately. And the school’s internal investigation cleared Thomsen of wrongdoing. Teacher’s assistant Mariangela Kefalas has since been dismissed from the school.
When investigators met with Thomsen he confessed on videotape, prosecutors said. But the defense argued it was coerced, which prosecutors denied.
“The people thoroughly investigated these claims and found no evidence that the defendant’s statements were improperly obtained or that they were false,” said Ferrari.
Thomsen was locked up June 27 and indicted on 15 counts of sex abuse including sick allegations he forced the tots to touch his genitals.
He spent days in jail before he posted $ 400,000 bond that required he wear an ankle monitor and not leave Manhattan.
“It has been five months of my life that I will never get back,” said the teary-eyed teacher flanked by his parents as he left court. “When all the evidence comes out and we have experts that analyze the alleged confession I’m positive it will show it was false and coerced.”
He plans to return to Copenhagen this week and complete his coursework for his teaching degree.
“That’s my passion and I won’t let one person or the crazy justice system ruin that,” he said.
Defense lawyer Jane Fisher-Byrialsen said she was pleased that prosecutors dismissed the charges but had hoped they’d affirm her client’s innocence.
“I’m relieved,” she said. “But I think their explanation of it was a cop out.”
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