WATERVILLE, Maine — A former student at a New Hampshire High School that at one time employed Waterville High School Principal Don Reiter approached a city police detective last week and told him Reiter had engaged in inappropriate behavior with some of her friends.
The Waterville Board of Education dismissed Reiter from his position as principal on Monday night, according to CBS 13.
Sgt. Bill Bonney was approached by the ex-student of Mascenic Regional High School of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, on Nov. 12 at a human trafficking conference in southern Maine, and told of the allegations, Waterville Police Chief Joseph Massey announced in a press release Monday. Massey also released a timeline of the investigation into the accusations against Reiter in New Hampshire.
Reiter, who has been accused of asking a Waterville High student to have sex with him, has been on paid administrative leave since Sept. 1. He has denied the accusation.
Massey said Monday police had investigated the Waterville student’s allegation and turned in their findings to the Kennebec County district attorney’s office in September for consideration. He said in light of the accusations in New Hampshire involving Reiter, the investigation was reopened.
According to the timeline released by Massey, two former Mascenic students contacted Bonney on Nov. 12 who were “familiar with inappropriate behavior by Donald Reiter,” which the chief said includes conduct similar to that alleged by the Waterville student.
That same day, Bonney spoke with a student who claimed she had an inappropriate relationship with Reiter and the student’s mother called the detective later and said Reiter had written the then-17-year-old student letters.
The next day, Bonney traveled to New Hampshire to speak with school staff, the mother of the student who allegedly received the letters and another former student who disclosed an alleged inappropriate relationship with Reiter, which allegedly culminated in a sexual relationship during her senior year or after graduation, Massey said.
Bonney on Nov. 14 received 147 pages of letters allegedly written to the student by Reiter. The letters frequently reference his love for her, their “taboo” relationship, a kiss that they shared, and other very personal comments, according to Massey.
Massey said Bonney was contacted by the police chief in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, on Monday, requesting his reports be forwarded to the Granite State department. The chief added Massey still needs to interview two other former Mascenic High students regarding the allegations against Reiter.
Efforts to reach Reiter’s attorney, Gregg Frame, were not successful Monday afternoon.
Anyone with information on the case should contact Bonney at 680-4700.
