Mahopac bus monitor charged with assaulting student 

A bus monitor employed by the Mahopac Central School District has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a 12-year-old student aboard a school bus earlier this month, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. 

Magalie Speranza, 65, of Yorktown, was arrested Oct. 8 and charged with third-degree assault and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child, all Class A misdemeanors, as well as second-degree harassment, a violation for the incident that took place Oct. 2. One law enforcement official told Mahopac News that the incident took place near Green Chimneys located in Brewster. 

Sheriff Brian Hess said the investigation determined that Speranza physically assaulted the student while the bus was in motion, causing minor injuries. Three other students were on the bus at the time. 

School district officials learned of the alleged assault late in the afternoon Oct. 6 and referred the matter to the Sheriff's Office the following day. District officials also provided investigators with video surveillance footage from the bus. 

Speranza was arraigned in Southeast Town Justice Court, where an order of protection was issued on behalf of the student. 

It is not clear whether Speranza remains employed by the school district or whether she has been placed on administrative leave. Mahopac News will update this story as more information becomes available.