A former teacher pleads guilty to grooming and touching students, citing cultural grief, while victims suffer lasting trauma.

A 57-year-old former high school teacher, Vasilious Kafataris, pleaded guilty to indecently touching a 17-year-old student and grooming a 15-year-old through explicit phone calls, including exposing himself and encouraging self-touching. He claimed the acts were cultural gestures during personal grief and not sexual, stating he didn’t know they were illegal. The victims described lasting psychological harm, including PTSD and depression. Kafataris, who lost his teaching job and now works in plumbing, said he regrets his actions and is in therapy. Prosecutors seek jail time to emphasize the seriousness of abuse by educators, while defense argues the acts were less severe due to apparent consent and spontaneity, requesting community corrections. He remains on bail awaiting sentencing on October 9.