A Massachusetts high school special needs aide faced a judge Tuesday morning after being arrested on sexual assault charges.
Forty-six-year-old Steve MacDonald pleaded not guilty to charges that he sexually assaulted and raped a disabled student he was aiding at Malden High School.
He was charged with two counts of rape, two counts of indecent assault and battery on a disabled person, and one count of assault with intent to rape.
According to prosecutors, MacDonald was assigned as a paraprofessional to a 16-year-old male student with multiple disabilities.
He allegedly took the student to a bathroom where he raped and sexually assaulted him, often luring the student with candy.
Prosecutors also claim he threatened the student to keep him quiet.
The victim told his mother what was allegedly happening in March.
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MacDonald was placed on leave and recently indicted.
He is married with two teenage boys and has no previous record.
He was released on person recognizance, ordered to stay away from the alleged victim and his family, to not volunteer or work with children under the age of 18, to report to the Malden Police Station for booking, photographs, and finger printing, and wear a GPS monitor.
MacDonald will appear in court again on September 15.
