Teaching assistant accused of raping special needs student

MOTT HAVEN -- A teaching assistant in the Bronx who is accused of raping a student made her first court appearance on Sunday. 29-year-old Maria Contreras had a huge show of support from her family, and claimed she did not commit any wrongdoing.

A judge set bail at $29,000.

Police arrested Contreras on Saturday night after authorities said she had a sexual relationship with a 14-year old boy who is described as being mentally disabled. The Department of Education says Contreras is a substitute paraprofessional at the Bronx Academy of Letters in Mott Haven.

Authorities maintain the rapes unfolded in her Barker Avenue apartment approximately six times over the course of a week. Eyewitness News spotted security cameras outside of her building. As a part of the investigation, detectives will look at the video from those cameras.

The 14-year-old student eventually told his mother, who then called police. Contreras was then fired from her job.

The Department of Education released a statement saying, "These allegations are incredibly disturbing. Ms. Contreras has been removed from her position and will no longer be employed by the DOE. We are working with NYPD on their investigation."

Contreras was originally nominated by other teachers to get a permanent position at her school - now she is fighting for her freedom.

Nearly 40 family members and friends came to support Contreras as she made her court appearance, but none of them wanted to talk to Eyewitness News' cameras. Contreras' public defender said there are no witnesses and no physical evidence or a video, and no evidence of electronic communications between the boy and Contreras. Her attorney also said it is school policy that no teacher is ever left alone with a student.

According to Contreras' attorney, she is a mother of two toddlers, and she still has not given her statement to police.