#Ex-teacher at New Hampshire school accused of sexually assaulting student for years

A former teacher at a prestigious boarding school in New Hampshire is accused of sexually assaulting a freshman from Florida for two years.

Szczesny Jerzy Kaminski, a 59-year-old math teacher at Phillips Exeter Academy who was fired in April, surrendered to cops Monday on charges of aggravated felonious sexual assault and misdemeanor sexual assault, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.

Rockingham County Attorney Patricia Conway said Kaminski acted as a “predator” when he allegedly took advantage of the teen student from Florida who knew no one else when she started at the private boarding school.

“He groomed her very carefully so that she would depend on him for support and love while she was away from her family and this was clearly calculated,” Conway told a judge.

“He didn’t stop, even after being warned twice by the administration, knowing that he was being watched by faculty members.”

Conway said the 14-year-old freshman, “who felt almost alone” on campus, was victimized repeatedly between 2014 and 2016 by Kaminski, who is married, including in a classroom where he allegedly kissed her repeatedly, the Boston Globe reports.

Kaminski sexually assaulted the teen “over and over and over and over again” for years, Conway said, adding that some of the incidents allegedly took place in his campus residence.

The student’s parents told police Kaminski ultimately became close with their family, staying with them at one point in Florida and accompanying them on a trip to China. He also drove the teen to Boston for music lessons, the Globe reports.

“Not only did she trust him, but her parents trusted him,” Conway said. “The long and short of this story is that her parents trusted this man.”

Staff at the school alerted Exeter police in 2016 to what they considered an inappropriate level of contact between the pair, prompting investigators to meet with her parents, according to Conway and court records cited by the newspaper.

The student told authorities that nothing untoward was happening between her and Kaminski, but officials at the school warned he’d be fired if his behavior continued, the Union Leader reports.

The investigation was reopened earlier this year when the alleged victim — now in her early 20s — gave cops emails and text messages backing up her claims, according to newspaper.

“I am burdened by memories of my high school experience so frequently,” the alleged victim wrote Kaminski in March, according to the report. “I try so hard to escape from it, but I only recently acknowledged how many of my current negative behaviors stemmed from that time … I’ve cried many, many tears. You don’t know how much shame I’ve faced.”

“I am so sorry,” Kaminski replied, a text message shared in court Tuesday showed.

A judge ordered that Kaminski, who denies the allegations, be held on $50,000 bond. The former teacher is also forbidden from contacting the woman and must surrender his passport, WMUR reports.

“There’s no allegation of stalking or harassment, and there have been no allegations of conduct since approximately 2016,” defense attorney Amy Spencer told a judge.

Conway had sought for Kaminski to be held without bail, characterizing him as a predator who is dangerous to others. A probable cause hearing in the case is scheduled for Sept. 4, the station reports.