Jan 11, 2008 - Benjamin Cortese, 62, an East Hartford High School shop teacher, was charged with inappropriately touching a female student and making a sexually suggestive comment toward her in the classroom
He was arraigned on charges of fourth-degree sexual assault, risk of injury to a minor, and disorderly conduct.
Cortese's lawyer argued that Cortese should be allowed to work because he has no criminal history and the school system did not substantiate the charges.Cortese is on unpaid administrative leave.
But [Judge Eliot] Prescott disagreed."You think the East Hartford school system is going to allow a teacher with pending sexual assault charges against him to return to the classroom?" Prescott asked.
The three incidents involving two female students occurred in October. Cortese was reported to have touched one student's shoulder and another student's buttocks, and at another time to have made a sexually suggestive comment to the latter student.
None of those incidents were substantiated by a school system investigation, and Cortese was able to continue working at the high school until his arrest.
In November, one of the students' parents complained about the incidents to the high school administration at which time the school system alerted the state Department of Children and Families and started an investigation. He is due back in court Jan 25.
TT - School districts and schools should never investigate themselves. For one, most do not have resource officers who are trained in the law and evidence, but mostly, school officials have no incentive to uncover misconduct.
