A New York City high school teacher allegedly became a 17-year-old student’s “sugar daddy,” giving her cash and a taxpayer-funded job in exchange for sex.
Martin Howfield, 56, a Spanish teacher who also happens to be a licensed attorney, is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student at North Queens Community High School last year, the New York Post reported.
Investigators say that Howfield arranged an internship funded by the NYC Department of Education’s work-study program for the 17-year-old girl in his law office, but her only tasks were to perform sexual favors.
The paid internship reportedly cost $2,000.
The Office of the Special Commissioner of Investigation, which investigates alleged wrongdoing in NYC’s public schools, found, over the course of their investigation into Howfield, that he asked the student “whether he could be her sugar daddy.”
Howfield allegedly agreed to pay the student $300 a month and asked her what she would do to receive the money.
The student told investigators that she offered him sexual favors.
Investigators say that Howfield asked the girl to provide nude photos of herself, and she complied with his wishes.
The girl also told investigators that Howfield bought her two pairs of sneakers and Victoria’s Secret panties at the mall.
She initially told police and school investigators that Howfield fondled her, but then she revealed that the two had sexual intercourse and she was asked to perform oral sex on him in the car following the shopping trips.
The Post reported that Howfield left his $85,793 a year job in November 2016 and had not commented on the allegations.
Although Howfield has been under investigation by city officials, it is unclear whether he has been formally charged with a crime.
According to Avvo, an online directory of practicing lawyers, Howfield is a still a licensed attorney in the state of New York. The website also states that the site has “not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.”
There is a troubling trend among female college students where they are seeking “sugar daddies” to foot the bill of their college education in exchange for providing their financial backers with sexual favors.
Many of these women find these “sugar daddies” through SeekingArrangement.com, a website that matches women with men willing to pay for female companionship.
The case with Howfield is unusual because it deals with a high school student who is a minor.