ANSONIA – A former Ansonia High School teacher was charged Tuesday (June 17) with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old.
Vincent M. Wynne, 41, of Torrington, was charged with second-degree sexual assault where the victim is younger than 16, and illicit sexual conduct with a victim under 16.
Wynne resigned as a science teacher at Ansonia High School on April 11, according to Ansonia Public Schools Superintendent Joseph DiBacco.
According to a redacted warrant for his arrest, an investigation into Wynne started in Ansonia after police received reports that Wynne may have been in possession of inappropriate photos and videos of students.
Ansonia police allegedly discovered messages Wynne exchanged with a 15-year-old who was not from Ansonia.
On March 28, Ansonia detectives turned their information over to police in Torrington, where a crime was suspected to have taken place.
Torrington police opened an investigation, interviewed the alleged victim, and then interviewed Wynne at his residence in Torrington on April 8.
“Wynne agreed to meet with us to discuss the evidence obtained on his cell phone,” the warrant, authored by Officer Oscar Segui, states.
Wynne was allegedly shown a photo of the 15-year-old victim and said they met on the “Sniffies” dating app. Wynne allegedly confessed that he had exchanged sexual messages with the teen, thinking the teen was 17 years old, which is still considered a minor in Connecticut, the warrant states.
Police told Wynne that he paid for an Uber ride to meet the teen at a Target parking lot in Torrington. Wynne allegedly said the meetup happened in February, and confirmed that he performed oral sex on the teen, according to the warrant.
“I then informed Wynne that (the) victim was actually 15 years old,” according to the warrant. “Wynne looked shocked, grabbed his head with both hands and started crying.”
Police then asked Wynne if the victim had tried to extort money from him and threatened to go to police if not paid.
“Yes, I paid Victim approximately $100,” Wynne allegedly told police. Wynne also told police he had previously given the teen $200.
Wynne also allegedly told police the teen had sent him nude photos, which he deleted.
Wynne was held on a $25,000 bond and was arraigned in Superior Court in Torrington on June 18, police said.
The Valley Indy submitted a freedom of information request to the school district on June 18 seeking access to Wynne’s personnel file.