In what is being called an extraordinary reversal of a former teacher’s conviction on 11 counts of abuse involving young students, a state appeals court has ruled that a Queens judge wrongfully allowed at trial an “unfettered passageway for the [prosecution] to elicit extensive and prejudicial evidence regarding alleged uncharged complaints” of other student sexual abuse allegedly committed by the teacher.

“The high risk of unfair prejudice … as a result of the jury hearing that more than 10 students allegedly made complaints against [the teacher] outweighed any potential probative value of such evidence,” wrote the Appellate Division, Second Department in the decision. “We hold that the Supreme Court’s ruling deprived the defendant of his right to a fair trial.”