LI teacher who admitted to raping student gets probation in plea deal

A former math teacher from Valley Stream who admitted to raping a 14-year-old student walked out of court after being sentenced to probation.

The teenage victim left the courtroom surrounded by family and friends. Inside, the 18-year-old sobbed as she read a victim impact statement to the judge ahead of the sentencing of her former math teacher at Lawrence Woodmere Academy.

In that statement, the victim called 33-year-old Daniel McMenamin a "narcissistic, sociopathic child molester" who she said sought her out the first time when she was alone in the lunchroom at 14 years old. She said he coerced her into a three-year sexual relationship.

McMenamin walked out of the Mineola courtroom with a sentence of 10 years' probation. He previously pleaded guilty to rape, and the no jail-time deal was agreed to by both the district attorney's office and the teenage victim, who said Thursday that she has "anxiety" and did not want to testify at a trial.

In her statement, the victim also had harsh words for the administrators, coaches and other teachers at Lawrence Woodmere Academy, saying they knew what was going on and did nothing to protect her.

The board president of the academy said in a statement that as a result of the case, "new leadership is in place" and that the school "worked with an independent third party to develop and provide additional training and protocols to help prevent unacceptable behavior from occurring."

McMenamin was given a chance to speak at the end of the hearing, but he spoke so softly that no one in the audience could hear. His attorney wouldn't tell News 12 what he said.

McMenamin must register as a sex offender and had his teaching license revoked.

McMenamin was arrested this March and also pleaded guilty to making inappropriate sexual comments to a teen he had started tutoring.