Torrington PD
ANSONIA – The lawyer for a former Ansonia High School teacher accused of sexually assaulting a teenager said his client has been cooperating with police and that there is more to the case than meets the eye.
“Mr. Wynne has fully cooperated with authorities from the outset, demonstrating his commitment to transparency,” the lawyer, Ioannis Kaloidis, said in a written statement to The Valley Indy.
“He maintains that he was unaware of the individual’s true age or identity, having been led to believe otherwise and was deeply distressed upon learning otherwise,” Kaloidis said. “Furthermore, Mr. Wynne has been the victim of extortion attempts, which we believe are critical to understanding the full context of the case.”
Kaloidis also pointed out that the alleged incident did not happen in Ansonia, and said that “a fair and impartial investigation will reveal significant discrepancies in the narrative presented thus far.”
Wynne, 41, of Torrington, was charged June 16 by Torrington police with second-degree sexual assault where the victim is younger than 16, and illicit sexual conduct with a victim under 16.
He is accused of exchanging sexual messages with a 15-year-old from the Torrington area, then meeting the teen in a parking lot in Torrington to engage in a sex act. He allegedly said he believed the teen was 17 years old, which is still considered a minor in Connecticut, his arrest warrant states.
Wynne started teaching at Ansonia High School in 2013, according to his personnel file.
During his time at Ansonia High School, Wynne taught classes in biology and environmental science. He was head of the science department; a co-advisor for the high school classes of 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023; and a TEAM Mentor.
Before working in Ansonia, Wynne also worked as a teacher at Shelton High School from 2007 to 2011, Bassick High School in Bridgeport from 2011 to 2012, and Columbus Elementary School in Bridgeport from 2012 to 2013.
The Valley Indy submitted freedom of information requests to the school districts in Shelton and Bridgeport on June 19 seeking Wynne’s personnel files.
Ansonia police started the investigation into Wynne after receiving a report Wynne may have been in possession of inappropriate photos and videos of students.
Ansonia police turned the investigation over to Torrington police after suspecting a crime happened in that community.
School officials put Wynne on leave on March 20 and notified him that he was under investigation.
“The investigation is in regard to an inappropriate content on your cell phone,” the notice said.
He resigned on April 11.
Wynne’s next court date is Aug. 5 at Superior Court in Torrington.
