Fitchburg Female Sex Ed Teacher Indicted On Charges Of Raping 14-Year-Old Student

WORCESTER (CBS) — Worcester County Prosecutors say they have strong forensic evidence including pictures and texts in their case charging a female sex ed teacher in Fitchburg with raping a 14-year-old male student on multiple occasions.

Rachelle Gendron, 27, was visibly shaken as she was arraigned on five counts of rape aggravated by age difference and a charge of enticement of a child under 16 years.

In court, the prosecutors told the judge they have text messages and pictures of Gendron exposing herself on the victim's and her cell phones, including photos showing Gendron "in various states of undress" with her breast exposed.

According to prosecutors, the incidents happened within the past two years, while Gendron had been a teacher at North Central Charter Essential School. She was 25 and 26 years old.

There was no answer at her family's home in Fitchburg, where her attorney says she has lived with her parents since graduating with honors from Wheaton College in 2004.

Gendron's attorney Andrea Levy issued a statement denying the charges.

"My client Rachelle Gendron pleaded not guilty to the indictments. An indictment is merely an allegation and it's the Commonwealth's obligation to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt as to each and every element as to the offenses to which she is charged," the statement said. "She maintains her innocence and that's why she entered the pleas of not guilty."

WBZ-TV originally learned of the allegations back in May.

At the time, Fitchburg police Sgt. Glenn Fossa also confirmed an investigation at the time but declined to comment on specifics, and North Central Charter Essential School executive director Stephanie Davolos would only say that Gendron no longer worked at the school.

"We cannot comment on personnel matters. We can confirm that teacher is no longer employed at the school," Davolos had said in a statement.

After Gendron's arraignment on Friday, the school issued a follow-up statement.

"The North Central Charter Essential School's highest priority is the safety and well-being of our students and we are both shocked and concerned by the allegations against the former employee in question," the statement read. "Upon first learning of those allegations, we took prompt and appropriate action consistent with the best interests of our students, which included swiftly terminating the individual and fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities investigating this matter. Until this matter is resolved, however, we cannot offer further comment."

Aggravated rape charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison in Massachusetts.

WBZ-TV's Karen Anderson contributed to this report.