Hastings music teacher charged with sexually abusing high school student

Teacher with more than 20 years of professional experience arrested for allegedly touching and kissing an underage student

Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced today that a former Hastings-on-Hudson Union Free School District music teacher was arrested on suspicion of unwanted touching and kissing of an underage student at Hastings High School in June.

DA Rocah said: “The alleged actions of this defendant, a long-time teacher, abused the trust placed in him by the school, parents, students and community when he allegedly sexually abused a student. We commend the brave young victim for coming forward.”

The defendant, 63-year-old Michael Rubino of Hartsdale, who was a music teacher in the Hastings Public Schools for more than 20 years, was arrested by State Attorney Detectives and arraigned today before Judge Peter Kolbert in Hastings-on-Hudson Parish Court of Justice on charges of endangering the welfare of a child, third-degree sexual abuse (both misdemeanors) and second-degree harassment (a misdemeanor).

Bail was set at $7,000 cash / $25,000 surety / $50,000 partially secured bond at 10%.

The defendant is scheduled to appear in court on September 18.

According to the indictment, on June 10, at approximately 10:15 a.m., the defendant took the student to the school’s auditorium, where he pulled him behind the curtain and hugged and kissed him without his consent. After allegedly rubbing the student’s back and kissing him on the cheek and neck, the defendant attempted to kiss him on the lips.

The student immediately reported the incident to a teacher, who notified the school administration that same day.

The district reported the incident to the Hastings-on-Hudson Township Police Department, which referred the case to the District Attorney’s Office and placed the defendant on leave pending the conclusion of the District Attorney’s criminal investigation.

The defendant left the district in July 2024.

Anyone who may have been a victim of a crime or has information about other possible victims of the defendant may contact the District Attorney’s Office’s Special Investigations Division at (914) 995-3000. Language assistance is available.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Baehr of the Child Abuse Bureau in the Special Prosecutions Division.