A married high school drama teacher in Connecticut had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student that included her performing sexual acts with the student on a classroom couch and a failed attempt at candle-lit sex behind a costume rack, police said.
Jennifer Frechette, 44, who taught drama at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven, was arrested and charged with second-degree sexual assault, fourth-degree sex assault, and risk of injury to a minor after she turned herself in on a warrant late last week, WTNH reported.
Investigators say one encounter between Frechette and the unnamed 15-year-old student involved the two gathering on a makeshift bed in a dimly-lit dressing room with battery-operated candles and a bag of unused condoms.
“Also in the room on the floor were battery operated ‘tea light’ candles, a mat that was made to look like a bed with pillows, a quilt, and a ‘Beats’ headphone case that contained several unused condoms,” says a police affidavit obtained by WFSB.
According to the affidavit, two security guards found the alleged victim and Frechette in the makeshift bed January 5 after they heard noises coming from behind the rack.
The guards told police that they found Frechette and the student clothed at the time.
The teen quickly stood up and tried to get out of the situation, while Frechette lay on the makeshift bed “in a fetal position,” the affidavit said.
Frechette reportedly told the guards nothing happened, saying the student “sweet talked” her. Later, she told police that she was trying on costumes for a play with the victim and the bed was set up for comfort.
Police also found an exchange of text messages between the student and Frechette about sex and how Frechette was no longer attracted to her husband.
The victim told police that Frechette traumatized him with a sexual act on a couch in December after he denied the allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior.
He also told police that the two planned to have sex the night the security guards found them, the affidavit said.
Frechette began her career as a volunteer manager of school plays, according to the New Haven Independent.
The Independent also mentions that her husband is an architect.
Wilbur Cross High School officials placed Frechette on paid administrative leave in January, and New Haven Public Schools Superintendent Reginald Mayo said in a statement Friday that the district plans on firing the drama teacher, WTNH reported.
Frechette is free on $100,000 bond.
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