ASHLAND, Maine — A change of plea could be in the works for an Ashland District School teacher arrested and charged in late November 2011 with gross sexual assault.
Aroostook County District Attorney Todd Collins said earlier this week that attorneys for Stephen Wierzbowski, 27, are in negotiations that could lead him to change his initial not guilty plea.
“At this point, it is still in negotiations,” said Collins. “I don’t have an end date for it or information about whether he will plead guilty or no contest.”
A high school English teacher at the K-12 school, Wierzbowski was arrested Nov. 30, 2011, after a complaint made to the SAD 32 administration led to an investigation by Maine State Police. He was charged with gross sexual assault and tampering with a witness.
Wierzbowski was immediately put on leave by the district and ordered to have no contact with students.
Police and school officials have not said whether the alleged victim was a student at the school, which serves kindergarten through grade 12.
A short time later, he was arrested a second time for violating his bail by using alcohol and being in possession of a weapon and marijuana.
He has since pleaded guilty to the bail violation and been sentenced to 48 hours in jail and a $250 fine.
Because of the bail violations, however, Wierzbowski’s conditions of release were altered so that he would be supervised by Maine Pretrial Services, an organization that oversees people on probation and those who have to adhere to bail conditions.
His contract with MPS orders him to be in regular contact with police.
Joe Carney, an officer with the Ashland Police Department, said after his arrest that the state police investigation spans from Greenville to Ashland.
Wierzbowski was an English teacher at Greenville High School until July 2010.
Say what you will about this kid, but I am honored to consider him a friend
Where is the honor for the victim?
Where is the honor for all the k-12 students who’s year was turned upside because of this?
Where is the honor for his parents?
Where is the honor in walking around with a weapon and dope?
How about honoring his victim, ex-students and community, instead.
I know some of the people involved…the accused is a very well liked teacher. His “victim” is not a child…From what I have been told by someone that knows him very well, the “victim” is actually a girl he dated with her parents approval ( until after a breakup that is) I agree, he should not have been using pot. Not a good example for his students…however, that is a long way from being a child molester!
Parents consent or not, ethically he should NEVER engaged in any sort of unprofessional like relationship with a student.
We don’t even know if the alleged victim is a student, though.
Ethically, perhaps not, but does that really constitute labeling the man as a child molester or convicting him for gross sexual assault?
He showed poor judgement by dating his student which was done in the open, with the parents approval. But, it was not criminal. If most of us were jailed simply because of practicing poor judgement with no criminal intent, the jails would be overflowing much more than they are now.
Ok, legally you are not an adult until the age of 18. So, if you “know” who the victim is and are stating fact that it is a student of his, then guess what …… he’s an accused CHILD molester!! Surprise. This goes so far beyond poor judgement.
The age of consent in Maine is 16yrs old. Not saying I agree with that but it is just that. It seems to me that because the state is willing to plea bargain the case against him is not so strong.
That’s true, the age of consent is 16yo. However, I was stating what the age of a person is to be a legal adult. Two different things. And even if this child (although that is assuming something that has not been released) is of the age of consent, there is one additional piece of information which makes it a crime. And that is, in Maine, a person is guilty of sexual
abuse of a minor if he engages in a sexual act with someone and the actor is at least five
years older. My guess would be that is where they have this guy.Another reason why the State may be willing to negotiate is because of a reluctant victim and not wanting to make this minor have to go through a trial and testify.
In my mind the mere fact that he was attracted to a child (by her DOB) makes him sick… but the fact that he went beyond that attraction and had a sexual relationship with her makes him a child molester. How would you feel if this guy or another school teacher whom you entrust your child to for an education had sex with your daughter or son??
The driver in the recent hit and run death of Joshua Constantine used poor judgement, allegedly with no criminal intent. She is facing a charge that carries a maximum of five years. She is a “good” person, too…at least if you listen to what her friends and customers say. I listened to her actions, and my conclusion is different from theirs.
Yes, it does constitute labeling him a child molester if he was engaging in relations with a minor. Furthermore, the student’s parents should be charged with neglect or abuse for “allowing” such a relationship! It is criminal.
First, I never called him a child molester.
Second, if the victim is not a child, WHY IN THE WORLD would they need to have their parents approval????
Third, using pot is not only not a “good example for his students” but it’s also ILLEGAL!
Fourth, whether this putz is a “very well liked” teacher or not, makes absolutely NO difference. Ted Bundy was a really nice guy too.
I know the victims mother from doing business with her, they are a family about getting as much attention and pity as possible. Like I said I do not think he was in the right here, he should’ve waited until she turned 18 and was no longer a student because now the guy’s career is over. But I agree that the family is about getting revenge because the daughter got a broken heart…sad case all around. High schoolers are too immature to be in any kind of relationship, when will people realize this?!
Not many kids had their year turned upside down over this. My kid was attending this school, like him, pretty much the whole student body could’ve gave a darn…except that they all had something to gossip and snicker about. And no I do not condone the actions of Mr. Weirzbowski (I mean c’mon teach, couldn’t you have waited until she was 18 and no longer your student? AND don’t you know how high school girls can be?) but the community doesn’t really deserve to be honored, not the way they all gossip up there.
Glad your kid was not effected, however, you would have no way of telling how many students were actually effected. Gossip is gossip … no more there then anywhere, still does not mean that countless students WERE actually effected, whether they choose to speak openly about it or not … and most will not speak openly so that the community would ever know the effect this has had on them.
One would have to wonder why???
It’s a fact that sexual predators are very good at grooming people to like them.
how can you honor a child molester? if he is guilty he shud be put in general population at the prison and see how he likes bein molested or if i had my way convicted molesters would get the death sentence
This article if very vague. The school is K-12 and it’s possible that the alleged victim is not a child. Do we know how old the alleged victim is or what the circumstances are concerning the arrest? It doesn’t seem like we do.
It unfortunate that you label him a child molester and then write, “if he is guilty.” He has not been convicted.
Superintendent Johnson hired him and should bear full responsibility for this.
You’ve got to be kidding, right. How in the world is the Superintendent responsible for what this guy did? Sounds like the Supr. booted this guy as soon as he committed his crime. That is being responsible.
The ONLY one who is responsible for this crime is the offender. period.
Otherwise, by your standard, bosses will now be guilty of DUI, Sexual Assault, etc that their employees commit. Seriously??? I’d rethink that philosophy.
Well said.
Read the story! He was being investigated while a teacher at his previous teaching job! Johnson should have been more diligent in his hiring process. And yes bosses are responsible for employees who screw up on the job; they are the leaders of the organization.
Ummm, think YOU need to go back and read the story!
And I quote “Ashland Police Department, said AFTER his arrest that the state police investigation spans from Greenville to Ashland.” AFTER his arrest. The devil’s in the details.
Supr. holds absolutely NO responsibility in this losers crimes. period.
Weed, booze, weapons, involvement with a minor….Seems like a great teacher to me……
This guy’s picture looks familiar. Was he just recently in the news for something else?
Pure and simple case of “Reefer Madness”. The dealers need to place warning labels on the baggies.
Did anyone find out why he left Greenville? There may have been a clue to his character there.
There should be a new feature in the daily newspapers “Pervert Teachers in the News”. This issue has become such a common occurrence, but where is the outrage? Why is this profession being protected? There are now stories surfacing about students who were sexually by teachers 20- 30 years ago.
Actually, this is NOT a common occurrence. There are MILLIONS of teachers and only a few cases like this a year. Just because the media reports it, doesn’t mean it is some sort of epidemic. Fear sells and you’re buying.
You almost can’t go a week without hearing about another case in America of an inappropriate relationship between teacher and student. Of course it’s an issue! Looks like gullibility sells to and you’re buying.
Actually pervert teachers have been around a long time. Principals have a tendency to pass them on to other schools.
Is it true that his latest victim is pregnant or just another county rumor?