A former student of disgraced Bronx High School of Science debate coach and teacher Jonathan Cruz is disgusted — but not surprised — by the Liberace-loving lothario’s indictment on child-porn charges.
“This s–t’s gonna blow up like the Jerry Sandusky case,” the ex-student predicted, referring to the once-renowned former Pennsylvania State University football coach who is now serving a 60-year sentence for sexually abusing young boys he was “mentoring.”
Cruz— known for his flamboyant style and fondness for dressing up as historical figures and celebrities, including Liberace — asked “two of my friends specifically for pictures of their feet” when they were just 16, recalled the former student, who asked not to be identified by name.
“And he solicited them for sex” as soon as they graduated from high school, said the ex-student, who attended a debate camp where Cruz coached.
“And this is just me, one person,” the ex-student said — noting that Cruz has been a teacher and mentor to thousands of boys in his nine years as a nationally renowned debating coach, both at Bronx Science and through national summer debating camps.
“Hands down, he is the most prominent speech and debate coach in the country,” the ex-student told The Post Saturday as Cruz’s shame was blasted across media Web sites, TV screens and newspaper pages.
“At this moment there are going to be thousands of kids on the phone texting each other being as freaked out as s- -t,” the former student said. “A lot of them will be in denial. This man is like the whatever-the-word-is for someone who holds together thousands of people.”
“I looked up to him — until he started soliciting my friends,” the ex-student said, noting that pals turned down Cruz’s overtures.
But according to the child-pornography charges announced Friday, five boys from across the country — some as young as 14 — did take up the creepy teacher on his request for naughty pictures.
Cruz, an East Village resident who remains in a federal lockup in lower Manhattan in lieu of $1 million bond, pretended to be a high-school student himself as he allegedly stalked his victims online.
He rewarded the kids who sent him photos by sending them hundreds of dollars in gift cards, according to the criminal complaint against him.
Cruz was a professional success. His speech and debate team at Bronx Science had more than 300 students. Just this month, more than two dozen of his students won championships or made the finals of regional contests, according to the team’s Facebook page.