Prosecutors: Mass. high school teacher charged in student's rape

BROCKTON, Mass. - A high school teacher was held on $20,000 bail Friday after pleading not guilty to charges that he raped one of his students, reported the Boston Globe.

Brockton High School teacher, Joaquim Andrade, was charged with enticement of a child, indecent assault and battery on a child over 14, rape of a child and aggravated rape of a child, according to the district's attorney office.

Andrade, 56, allegedly lured the female victim into his car and, after sexually assaulting her, dropped her off at a soccer game with his phone number and a false name in her phone, the Brockton Enterprise reported. The girl would report the alleged rape to school officials three days later.

The district then reportedly placed Andrade on administrative leave. After a three-week investigation conducted by police, Andrade was arraigned on Friday, held on bail and was ordered no unsupervised contact with children under 17 as well as surrender his passport. The judge also ordered that he have no contact with contact with the alleged victim.

Jeffrey Denner, one of his lawyers, told the Boston Globe that by next week, "it will be clear Mr. Andrade has done absolutely nothing wrong."

"After speaking to him in great length yesterday, it is my understanding that he has not broken any criminal laws," Denner told the newspaper.

The district did not name the long-time teacher specifically. District Superintendent Kathleen Smith told reporters that officials have been working with the victim and her family to provide her with counseling and support services. She also said that she was proud of the student for having come forward.

"The individual in question is a long-term teacher who obviously has rights, both in regard to the court system and in regard to his employment status," Smith told the Boston Globe in a statement. "Rest assured, however, that the Brockton Public Schools will deal with this situation as aggressively as it can."