Pine Bush High School social worker accused of kissing 14-year-old student, providing marijuana
Police say the 39-year-old Wallkill woman kissed the student multiple times and smoked marijuana with him as many as 20 times. An official source says the student was assigned to her caseload.
Jun 4, 2026, 11:44 AM
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A Pine Bush High School social worker is accused of kissing a 14-year-old student assigned to her caseload and providing him with marijuana over the course of several months, according to police and an official source familiar with the investigation.
Gina M. Modafferi, 39, of Wallkill, was arrested June 1 and charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a Class A misdemeanor.
According to police, the alleged conduct occurred between December 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026.
News 12 found a Pine Bush High School employee listed on the district website as Gina Modafferi-Capucilli, a variation of the name used by police in announcing the arrest. News 12 also found a public fundraiser in which Modafferi identified herself as a school social worker and described helping students obtain clothing and hygiene products for students in need.
According to Crawford police, Modafferi kissed the student on multiple occasions. Investigators also allege she provided the student with marijuana vape pens and marijuana and smoked marijuana with him approximately 10 to 20 times.
An official source familiar with the investigation told News 12 that the student was assigned to Modafferi's caseload and that she worked with him one-on-one as part of her role as a school social worker.
The source said there is no allegation of sexual intercourse in the case. The source described the allegations as involving kissing, text messages and home visits and said the matter came to light after it was discovered by the child's family.
"The behavior is bizarre for an adult and so outside normal educational bounds," the source told News 12.
The source also said the Pine Bush Central School District took immediate action after learning of the allegations.
Reached by phone, Modafferi denied the allegations and said she hoped to keep the matter "low" and out of the press while the case proceeds through the court system.
"I'm not guilty of any of the accused charges and we are fighting it," she told News 12.
Her attorney, Lisa Pelosi, later told News 12, "We have entered a plea of not guilty and are cooperating with the district attorney's office."
Modafferi was arraigned through Orange County's centralized arraignment process and released without bail. A judge also issued an order of protection. She is scheduled to appear in Crawford Town Court on June 18.
The investigation involved Crawford police, the Pine Bush Central School District, the FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force and the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
News 12 has reached out to officials and the Pine Bush Central School District for additional information, including whether Modafferi remains employed by the district.
