Schools

Cops: Stratford Tutor Acted 'Inappropriately' with Students

Elementary school tutor William Stewart faces charges of risk of injury to a minor and disorderly conduct.

Our initial report was updated 6:20 p.m. Wednesday to include comments from Stratford Board of Education Chairman Gavin Forrester. Scroll down for the original report.

In an email to Stratford Patch, Gavin Forrester said the following:

"A complaint was made by a student at the school which was reported to the principal. The principal conducted an initial investigation which led to additional concerns being raised.

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"She reported those concerns to DCF/Stratford Police/ and the parents of all involved, and of course central office. The tutor was sent home immediately and instructed not to have any further contact with the school which he did not.

"From that point further investigations were conducted by both DCF and the Stratford police and the administration cooperated fully. According to our records the tutor has been with the district some 11 years without any prior complaints being received."

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Our original report follows.

A tutor at Chapel Street Elementary School was charged Monday for alleged inappropriate behavior with two 11-year-old female students, the Connecticut Post reports.

William Stewart, 39, played kissing games with the girls, offering money and even an iPod in exchange for affection, police, citing complaints, told the newspaper.

The investigation started on March 22 after “several students” told school officials that Stewart “had made inappropriate comments, requests or gestures to them,” Stratford police Lt. Frank Eannotti said in a statement released Wednesday.

“The subsequent investigation determined that Stewart had acted inappropriately toward female students and these actions led to the charges being filed by the department,” he said.

Stewart is charged with risk of injury to a minor, a felony, and disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor.

He was released after posting $25,000 bond and is scheduled for arraignment in Bridgeport Superior Court June 20.


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