Sex abuse cases in American public schools (Massachusetts)
This page documents sex abuse cases in American public schools (Massachusetts).
Cases
Susan Clickner, 46, an eighth-grade science teacher at Blanchard Middle School, Westford, was indicted in 2005 on one count of statutory rape for allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old former student.The court ordered her to register as a sex offender.
Robert Dacey, 49, a drama teacher at McDevitt Middle School, Waltham and a former baseball, basketball and football coach at Waltham High School, was accused in 2007 of sex assaults on three male students. Dacey pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape of a child, two counts of enticement of a child and indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 last year. He was later found dead of an apparent heart attack.
James R. Houlihan, 43, a teacher at Samuel Bowles Elementary School, Springfield, was arrested in 2007 on two counts of indecent assault and battery on a female child under 14. He was found guilty on one of these charges and was sentenced to two years in prison.
Amber S. Jennings, 32, a former teacher at Shepherd Hill Regional High School in Dudley, was accused of sending obscene photos, videos and electronic messages to a 16-year-old male student with whom she was having a sexual relationship in 2005. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years of supervised probation.
Joseph Magno died in 2007 a day before his trial could begin on charges of raping a 13-year-old boy, a student at Maynard High School. Fourteen other boys were also slated to testify against the 66-year-old teacher. One victim's family has sued the town of Maynard.
Gregory Pathiakis, 26, was a former Middleboro High School teacher from Brockton. In 2005 he was accused of homosexual rape of a one of his 15-year old students, enticement of a child under 16, five counts of possession of child pornography and one count of distribution of harmful material to a child. He pleaded guilty to one count of rape. He was sentenced to five years probation.