GUILDERLAND — A custodian at Farnsworth Middle School was charged on Tuesday with three felonies, including rape.

Raquan D. Dyson, 28, living at 233 Executive Drive, had, according to a release from Guilderland Police, “gone to the home of a 14-year-old female victim with the intention of having sexual intercourse.  Dyson had previously had sexual contact with the victim.”

He was arrested at about 1 p.m. on March 22 and charged with second-degree rape, second-degree criminal sexual act, and first-degree dissemination of indecent materials to minors — all felonies — as well as with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.

Curtis Cox, deputy chief of the Guilderland Police, asked how the investigation started, said, “We received a complaint.” Asked if the complaint came from the victim or her family or someone else, he said, “I’m not certain.”

A charge of second-degree rape, Cox explained, means one of two things: Someone 18 or older engages in sexual intercourse with someone younger than 15 or with someone incapable of consent because of being mentally disabled or incapacitated.

Similarly, a charge of second-degree criminal sexual act means someone 18 or older engages in oral or anal sex with someone younger than 15 or with someone incapable of consent because of being mentally disabled or incapacitated.

Cox told The Enterprise on Wednesday that he could not comment on what type of “indecent materials” were involved or how they were disseminated because that, along with the use of social media, is part of the investigation and discussing it could hamper the prosecution.

The arrest report filed by the Guilderland Police says that Dyson, who is married, sent “a picture of a penis” to the victim via Instagram. It also says that Dyson engaged in earlier sexual acts with the victim on March 18 at about 11:30 a.m. On March 22, the report says, Dyson came to the victim’s home with a condom and “stated he was there to engage in sexual intercourse.”

Superintendent Marie Wiles sent an email to school district families on Tuesday evening, noting the arrests and stating they were “a result of an alleged inappropriate relationship with a Farnsworth Middle School student. The alleged incidents took place off school property,” Wiles said.

She also said that, upon learning of the arrests on Tuesday, the school district immediately revoked Dyson’s access to all of its buildings pending further action.

Wiles said that Dyson was hired in December 2021 and cleared the required New York State Department of Education fingerprinting and background check. “No issues were found at the time,” she wrote, adding that Dyson worked the evening shift and was not in the building during regular school hours with students.

On Wednesday morning, Wiles told The Enterprise that the second shift, which Dyson worked, actually begins at 2:30 p.m., an hour before dismissal, with buses leaving at 3:45 p.m. Additionally, the school also hosts sports and other after-school activities.

“We did not get it right last night,” she said of the email that went out to parents. “We were in such a rush … dealing with it as it unfolded.”

In her email, Wiles made this request of parents: “If your child has any additional information that pertains to this situation and could be helpful, contact my office or the Guilderland Police Department at 518-356-1501.”

Cox renewed that plea on Wednesday, asking “anybody [who] was a victim” to call the Criminal Investigative Unit of the Guilderland Police Department at the same number Wiles gave.

Dyson was arraigned in Guilderland Town Court and remanded to Albany County’s jail on $50,000 cash bail, $20,000 bond, pending further court action.

Wiles concluded her email, saying, “We understand this news may be upsetting and may generate emotions and many questions within our school community. We are committed to providing a safe and emotionally supportive educational environment for the children at Farnsworth Middle School and all of our students, and we will do our best to share additional information as it becomes available.”

On Wednesday afternoon, Wiles sent another notice to parents, clarifying the second shift time and also offering support for students and their families.

“Any GCSD student who would like to talk to someone in a private, supportive setting, is encouraged to seek a counselor or social worker in their school building,” she wrote. “Students can ask any staff member for help.”

The notice also said, “To the extent that social media played a role in this situation, we urge families to take an active role in your children’s activities online, and to remind students to be mindful of their digital footprint.”

 Resources that “may be helpful in these conversations” are posted on the school district’s website.