Former teacher admits to sexual relationship with student
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) On Friday, a former New Haven High School math teacher admitted to having a sexual relationship with a student earlier this year.
Troy Guenin agreed to plead guilty to felony child seduction and felony dissemination of matter harmful to minors charges. The deal calls for Guenin to serve four years in prison with two years suspended for the child seduction, and two years suspended and three years of probation for the felony dissemination of matter harmful to minors.
Additional charges include, felony child seduction and felony dissemination of matter harmful to minors will be dropped as part of the agreement with prosecutors.
Guenin was also ordered to have no contact with his victim.
The investigation began May 1 when the girl’s parents contacted New Haven High School administrators after finding a large number of text messages between their daughter and math teacher Troy Guenin. The girl then confided to her mother that she had been having sexual relations with Guenin, according to court documents.
A New Haven Police Department Officer interviewed the girl after her admission and she told him she and Guenin had sex about 10 to 15 times since January. The encounters took place in a backroom of his classroom during third period when she was an intern. One encounter took place at Guenin’s home, according to the girl.
When the officer interviewed Guenin, he admitted to the relationship and said there had been “tenish” encounters. He also admitted to sending two graphic photos via text message to the girl. The officer found sexually explicit photos on Guenin’s cell phone, two of which appeared to have been taken in his classroom. Guenin also admitted he knew how old the victim was and that he had discussed with her the ramifications of being caught because of the teacher-student relationship.
During the investigation it was also learned that Guenin had been reprimanded in August 2014 for inappropriate text messages to and from the student. He had also been named Teacher of the Year at New Haven High School in 2014.
Guenin had been a teacher with East Allen County Schools since August of 2005. He was terminated once administrators learned of the investigation.
At Friday’s hearing, Guenin’s counsel urged the court to keep him out of jail, arguing the importance of his ability to support his three children. Prosecutors disagreed, saying he was a threat to approach him victim.
Guenin’s bond was revoked and he was placed into custody. Guenin will be sentenced Aug. 26.