A veteran Queens high school principal was accused of repeatedly fondling a female staffer on campus – then promptly booted from his job by the city.

William Bassell, 66, the founding principal of Academy of American Studies, was arrested on May 27 on charges of forcible touching and five counts of sexual abuse in the third degree, according to a criminal complaint obtained by The Post.

Bassell allegedly “grazed his hand” over the inner thigh of a woman “without her consent” in four different incidents in 2023 and 2024, according to the complaint filed with Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz’s office.

William Bassell, 66 years old, was arrested last week on May 27th, 2025. Norton learning blog/William Bassell

In a fifth incident on June 6 of last year, Bassell allegedly got out o

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