Former South Shore teacher convicted of rape

A former teacher at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School in Rochester was convicted of rape last week in Plymouth Superior Court, prosecutors said. 

Andre Arsenault, 37, was found guilty of nine counts of nine counts of indecent assault & battery on a person 14 or over, one count of assault with intent to rape, and one count of rape, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz said in a Dec. 12 press release.

In October 2022, a former student told Rochester police that in high school she had been “groomed and victimized by her Culinary Art Teacher,” the release said. 

The victim said Arsenault’s inappropriate behavior dated back to 2018, and abuse took place between between 2021 and 2022, according to the release.

“Teachers in our community hold a great deal of power over our children and have the ability to help them succeed in life. Rather than working to better our community, Andre Arsenault used this privileged position to prey upon a student,” DA Cruz said. “I am proud of the young woman who came forward and testified in order to secure Arsenault’s conviction today. It is because of her bravery that he will no longer be in a position to victimize anyone else.”

And attorney for Arsenault did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday evening.

Arsenault will be sentenced on Dec. 19, officials said.

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