Posted on 05/16/2022 12:59:28 PM PDT by redguyinabluestate
After being accused of sexually assaulting a student last year, a former New Hampshire teacher of the year finalist is facing criminal charges.
This is the first case that County Attorney Patricia Conway’s office would prosecute under a relatively new statute that focuses on the relationship of authority over an alleged victim rather than their age.
Bridgette Doucette-Howell, 38, was charged in April and May 2021 with three counts of serious felonious sexual assault of an 18-year-old. The accuser was a Sanborn Regional High School student.
Doucette-Howell worked as an extracurricular activity theatre coach at the high school on a limited basis, according to the superintendent, and has not been affiliated with the district since. The Department of Education has suspended her instructor license, citing its top responsibility as preserving the safety of children.
College professors are not allowed to have romantic or sexual relationships with students, and can be fired for this. It could also open up the doors to lawsuits because of being in a position of power. Many businesses do not allow dating when there is a manager/employee relationship for the same reason. But I have to say criminal charges here seem like a stretch, at least considering the anything-goes culture of the post-sexual revolution era. Will probably lead to the law being struck down by the courts.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.