Two Former Teachers Convicted, Charged with Sexual Assaults in Minnesota, Syracuse

Two teachers in different states have been found guilty or charged with serious sexual misconduct involving minors. Abdul Wright, named Minnesota Teacher of the Year in 2016, was convicted of sexually assaulting a former eighth-grade student and faces a prison sentence of 144-172 months; the abuse reportedly began months after he received the award. In Syracuse, New York, music teacher Lansing Dimon was charged with two counts of third-degree rape and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child after being accused of raping a 16-year-old boy multiple times off school grounds; the victim is not currently a student in the district. Dimon, who has been with the Syracuse City School District since 2019 and has a master's degree in music education, was placed on paid administrative leave following his arrest. Both cases are generating ongoing investigations, with authorities urging anyone with additional information to come forward. School officials in both communities have expressed shock and are cooperating with law enforcement.