Yonkers Police say they have arrested a high school teacher who is accused of sexually assaulting a student in 2021.

Police have identified the Saunders Trades and Technical High School teacher as 49-year-old James Korwatch.

Investigators say the relationship escalated to physical and sexual violence as well as physical and verbal intimidation and coercion.

“Based on these serious and disturbing allegations, Mr. Korwatch has been removed from his teaching responsibilities. The District has and will continue to fully cooperate with the Yonkers Police Department and the Westchester County District Attorney. As this is an ongoing investigation and a matter of personnel, no further comments can be made by the school district,” Yonkers Public Schools spokesperson Jerilynne Fierstein wrote in a statement.

Korwatch was arrested today and is expected to be arraigned in Yonkers Criminal Court.

Information about the student is not being released.