Prosecutors interview witnesses, victims in case of former teacher accused of rape
WAREHAM — A former Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School teacher accused of raping a student has received another date to return to court.
Andre Arsenault, 35, appeared Thursday in Wareham District Court on charges of rape and indecent assault and battery on a person age 14 or over — offenses allegedly committed towards an Old Colony student while Arsenault was a teacher at the school, according to reports.
During the July 25 hearing, a prosecutor said the grand jury process had begun, “numerous witnesses” had been interviewed and the prosecution had been in touch with two alleged victims.
There are “a lot of intricate parts” and a “number of” witnesses and documents, the prosecutor said.
Arsenault’s attorney James Morse said he had “received nothing from the Commonwealth” after making a motion for discovery in April.
The prosecution wants a grand jury in the coming weeks, the prosecutor said.
According to a criminal complaint made March 11, the alleged offenses were committed in October 2022.
Arsenault was at that time a culinary arts teacher at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School in Rochester.
A January 2023 letter issued by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education addressed to Arsenault said the department “learned of allegations that you engaged in conduct that calls into question your fitness to maintain” a state educator license, according to documents obtained through a public records request.
Three weeks later, Arsenault surrendered his license, according to Department of Elementary and Secondary Education documents.
A date for Arsenault’s rescheduled probable cause hearing was set for Sept. 13.