School Board member resigns over sex charges

By STEPHEN BARTLETT
Staff Writer

October 30, 2007 04:00 am

— CLINTONVILLE -- Anthony Deyoe has resigned from the AuSable Valley Central School Board in the wake of criminal charges involving an alleged sexual act with a 14-year-old girl.
Deyoe, who was unable to be reached for comment Monday, has served on the School Board since 2001.
AuSable Valley Central School officials said that, to their knowledge, the incident did not involve any of their students.
"It is unfortunate," AuSable Valley Central School Superintendent Paul Savage said Monday.
Members of the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation based in Ray Brook charged Deyoe, 27, of AuSable Forks with second-degree criminal sexual act, which is a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.
The arrest stemmed from an incident involving a 14-year-old girl at Deyoe's home earlier this month, police said.
He was arraigned before Wilmington Town Justice Shawn Minogue and released on $2,500 bail. He is due back in Jay Town Court on Nov. 26 at 6 p.m., and the investigation is continuing.
"The AuSable Valley Central School District has been made aware of an allegation of misconduct with respect to one of our board members, Tony Deyoe," Savage said in a prepared statement.
"Mr. Deyoe has resigned from the Board of Education."
The School District takes allegations of misconduct seriously, Savage said, and has taken appropriate steps "to support and protect our students and our school community."
The School District will cooperate in any way it can with the investigation by the State Police, he said.
"As this is an ongoing investigation, we must preserve the rights of everyone involved, and we are limited as to what we can discuss at this time."
Sabage said members of the school community were shocked by the news.
"I am a parent, and I can relate to the concerns of parents who read or hear information relating to an allegation of misconduct," Savage said.
"Parents should know that the AuSable Valley Central School District applies its fullest resources to take whatever actions are necessary to protect our students and our school community."
sbartlett@pressrepublican.com