Hudson Valley Teacher Charged With Raping Student

A former teacher in the Tri Valley School District, who is now employed at the Poughkeepsie City School District was charged Wednesday with felony rape against a female student according to the Times Herald Record.

Police alleged that Jason Horton, of Maybrook, had sexual contact with a student, who was under age 17, during school hours while he was employed as an English teacher in the Tri Valley School district. According to the Record, Horton left Tri Valley in early November.

Horton was charged with two felonies that include third degree rape and one count of third degree criminal sexual act. He was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. He was arraigned in Neversink Town Court and sent to Sullivan County Jail on $30,000 cash bail or bond.

The superintendent of Tri Valley Schools released this statement on Wednesday according to the Record:

Jason Horton is no longer employed by the Tri-Valley Board of Education, having recently resigned to accept a position with another district. We are aware of his arrest on Wednesday in connection with allegations that he was having an inappropriate relationship with a Tri-Valley student. We are cooperating with the police in their investigation and will assist the family of our student in their efforts to deal with this situation. Due to the nature of the allegations, the sensitivity of the investigation, and the laws governing student privacy, the District has no further comment at this time.

The Poughkeepsie School District has yet to comment.