A special education teacher at an elementary school in New Britain has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting multiple students and lying about it to authorities, according to an arrest warrant obtained by NBC Connecticut.
The superintendent’s office identified the teacher as Erving Rivera, who was a special education teacher at Lincoln Elementary School.
Rivera was placed on administrative leave and later resigned after school officials were notified about alleged inappropriate behavior with several students, the warrant states.
The state Department of Children and Families said they conducted a joint investigation with law enforcement about allegations of child maltreatment reported at Lincoln Elementary School in New Britain after school district personnel and police brought incidents to their attention, but they could not comment further.
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The superintendent said Lincoln School officials were notified on Feb. 8 of potentially inappropriate behavior by Rivera and immediately notified the New Britain Police Department and the state Department of Children and Families.
On the same day, he was removed from the school and placed on administrative leave, according to the superintendent. Rivera resigned from the district on March 22.
In an arrest warrant obtained by NBC Connecticut, it states that a 10-year-old, who wasn't Rivera's student, told police she was sexually assaulted.
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Another teacher saw Rivera whisper something into the girl's ear while coming back from recess and when asked what he said, the child said Rivera told her, "what happens in my room stays in my room." Authorities learned that the 10-year-old goes to Rivera's classroom a few times a day, and he allegedly keeps the door closed, the warrant says.
It was reported to police that many females, including staff members, feel uncomfortable around Rivera. The child spoke with the school's behavioral assistant and told them she sometimes sits on his lap when no one is around, the warrant states.
According to the warrant, the student went on to say that Rivera kisses her on the neck and lips and "puts his hand under her shirt and touches her back and tickles her." The 10-year-old told officers that Rivera also touches her butt outside of her pants.
The child told authorities that she has told Rivera it bothers her when he kisses her, but he does it anyways. The warrant states that the child and Rivera talk about "private stuff," including school and home problems.
The warrant states that other students said Rivera inappropriately touched them, too. Multiple other students who spoke with police shared similar experiences with Rivera. One girl said Rivera would "grab her by the neck and push her towards him." He would also "touch her back and feel her bra strap," and called her "baby," according to authorities.
Rivera denied the allegations, saying "there's nothing, other than me caring about the students, there's nothing." He told officers that, "there's no reason to run because [he] didn't do anything wrong," and said he "wouldn't have put himself in $80,000 in school debt just to throw it all away," the warrant states.
Investigators concluded that, "after obtaining interviews with numerous Lincoln Elementary School staff members, female students who are not students of Rivera, the victim, and Rivera, it is clear that Rivera had inappropriate relationships with many female students," the warrants reads.
The 10-year-old was "so disturbed by what Rivera was doing to her that she kept a log book of the amounts of times he touched her private areas." Rivera's actions were described as "child grooming," according to the warrant.
The behavior of which Mr. Rivera is accused is morally reprehensible and a stain on the noble profession of public education.
Tony Gasper, Superintendent of The Consolidated School District of New Britain
“From day one, there has been full collaboration from our staff and administrators in working with law enforcement and DCF that has led to where we are today and that is the arrest of Mr. Rivera,” Gaspar said in a statement.
“Since this all transpired, our district has been working with individual students and their families to offer support services that they may need and will continue to do so moving forward,” the statement says.
Gaspar said the school district has “a very thorough vetting process” and verified that “all legally required background checks on Mr. Rivera were completed prior to his employment with the District in February 2020.”
According to the arrest warrant, Rivera transferred to Lincoln Elementary School in 2022 from New Britain High School. At the elementary school, he taught students in first, third, fourth and fifth grades, Rivera told police.
The superintendent said their ability to provide additional details is limited because this is an active legal matter and DCF investigation.
“As your superintendent, it is my duty to keep New Britain’s children safe and I will ensure that we continue to examine all policies and practices. Our hiring process is already compliant with all mandated background check requirements but we will work to find ways to exceed what is required by law to ensure that the District hires staff that represents our strongly held morals and beliefs.” Gaspar said in a statement.
The warrant states that Rivera was arrested on several charges including multiple counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, illegal sexual contact and risk of injury to a child.
NBC Connecticut has reached out to the New Britain Police Department for additional information.
The state Department of Children and Families said a reasonable suspicion of child maltreatment can be made to the Child Abuse and Neglect Careline by dialing 1-800-842-2288. The Careline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and callers to the Careline can remain anonymous.
