A former music teacher in Meriden, Connecticut, was arrested after being accused of sexually assaulting a student at Maloney High School.
Police have confirmed that Ciara Picard turned herself in on December 2, according to News8. Picard, 39, stands accused of engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a student.
According to an arrest warrant viewed by NBC Connecticut, the alleged inappropriate relationship between Picard and the student began several years ago while the student was enrolled at the school.
The student was only 13 years old and in the eighth grade when he first met Picard. The victim became her student when he was a freshman, and Picard remained his music teacher for the rest of his high school experience.
The victim, whose name has not been publicly announced, claimed that Picard started grooming him his freshman year. The alleged grooming continued into his senior year when the victim was 17 years old. Throughout the alleged relationship, Picard and the student would stay in touch via text messaging.
He alleged that their relationship turned sexual during his junior year, claiming that they would send each other intimate photos. Additionally, the victim claimed that Picard would tell the victim she “loved” him.
Picard also allegedly started visiting his house after school when no one was home during his junior year. The victim told investigators about one instance when Picard attempted to perform oral sex on him. After noting that he didn’t want to participate, he said he ultimately complied.
The victim also showed investigators alleged graphic texts that he exchanged with Picard, in which she said “how bad she wanted” him and described sexual things she wanted to do to the victim, according to the arrest warrant.
Detectives visited Picard at Maloney High School on August 26, where she denied ever having an inappropriate relationship with a student. She confirmed that she communicated with the victim through texts and admitted their conversations “definitely crossed the line,” according to the arrest warrant.
Picard also told police she would tell the victim she loved him all the time, and acknowledged their relationship was “not OK” when she was asked if they ever had a sexual relationship.
The former teacher further claimed to authorities that the victim ended their relationship in 2021.
The school district notified police about the allegations as soon as they came out, according to investigators. Additionally, authorities confirmed that the student Picard allegedly assaulted has already graduated.
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Picard has been charged with five counts of second-degree sexual assault, according to NBC Connecticut. She has already been released on a $25,000 bond, and she is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, December 16. It is not currently clear if she has entered a plea or retained legal representation.
Prior to her arrest, Picard resigned from her position as a teacher at Maloney High School sometime in August.
The school district said it is fully cooperating with Meriden Police as the investigation continues.
“While we cannot comment on the specifics of an ongoing legal matter, we take all allegations of this nature with the utmost seriousness. Our first priority is always to assure the safety and well-being of our students and staff,” assistant superintendent Louis Bronk said in a statement, according to NBC Connecticut.
