A Manhattan charter school principal charged with sexually abusing at least two students, including a 12-year-old girl, was released without bail after pleading not guilty.
Eric Cato, 37, who led KIPP Washington Heights Middle School on Jumel Place in Upper Manhattan, was arrested on Aug. 12 and faces eight counts in a Manhattan Supreme Court indictment. The charges stem from alleged conduct between October 2024 and March 2026. Prosecutors accuse him of exposing two children to “sexual contact,” and the NYPD confirmed one victim was only 12 years old. He is also charged with endangering the welfare of a third child between August and December 2025.
Cato pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and was released on his own recognizance, according to online court records. It remains unclear whether prosecutors requested bail. The Manhattan DA’s Office did not immediately comment on that question.
The charter network moved quickly to sever ties. A spokesperson for KIPP NYC confirmed Cato has been dismissed from his role. “We take these allegations very seriously and understand how deeply alarming this news is for our school community,” the representative said in a statement. “This individual is no longer at the school, and we remain focused on protecting student privacy and maintaining a safe and supportive environment for KIPP families and staff.”
Daniris Rodriguez, the mother of a 13-year-old girl allegedly groomed by Cato, spoke to NY1 about her family’s anguish. She wants “accountability” and “justice” for her daughter.
“I was devastated because my daughter has been going to KIPP for years, and when you take your kids to school, you’re leaving them where trustworthy people are,” Rodriguez said. “That was not the case.”
Rodriguez told the network her daughter decided to come forward because she believed she wasn’t the only one subjected to the behavior. The teenager’s courage, her mother said, was motivated by concern for other students who might be suffering in silence.
“I’m very proud of her for speaking up and being a voice for the kids who don’t have a voice, that were shy, that were afraid, that were scared to even tell their parents,” she added.
Both the Manhattan DA’s Office and the NYPD have actively encouraged other potential victims to step forward. DA Alvin Bragg issued a stern statement condemning the alleged abuse. “As alleged, this principal abused his position to sexually abuse middle schoolers he was entrusted to mentor and keep safe,” Bragg said. “We are continuing to investigate alongside the NYPD.”
The DA’s office provided a direct line for witnesses and victims. “We urge anyone with information to contact our Child Abuse Bureau at 212-335-4300,” Bragg continued. “Our specially trained prosecutors and counselors can speak with children in a sensitive manner in a child-friendly space.”
In the viral moment that brought the case to public attention, the details of Cato’s release without bail sparked outrage across social media and local news coverage. The combination of the charges involving multiple middle schoolers and his freedom pending trial fueled intense community reaction. The KIPP Washington Heights Middle School family handbook thanks parents for “entrusting your children with us” — language that now rings hollow for families who say that trust was shattered.
Victims are also encouraged to call the NYPD’s Sex Crimes Hotline at 1-212-267-7273, the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
Cato’s next court date has not been publicly announced.