Ciara Picard former Meriden, Connecticut music teacher alleged to have groomed a then 14 year old boy before having sexual relationship with victim, with teacher telling victim she loved him along with exchanging indecent messages and images.
A former music teacher in Connecticut is alleged to have groomed a former student before going on to have a sexual relationship with the then teen victim.
Ciara Picard, 39, who taught music at Maloney High School in Meriden, CT, turned herself in to authorities on December 2 after the former female educator being indicted on five charges relating to second-degree sexual assault.
Relationship with 14 year old victim ‘evolved’ after his father passing away
A police investigation was launched following allegations Picard had a sexual relationship with a male student (now 25 years old) who graduated ‘years’ ago.
Picard is alleged to have first met the victim when he was 13, where she is accused of first proceeding to ‘groom’ her victim upon the boy turning 14 in his freshman year according to News 8 Daily News.
The relationship was said to have become sexual by the time the student reached his junior year. The victim said the relationship evolved after his father passed away.
Over time, the communications were said to have become personal and frequent and took place after school hours.
One incident described in the arrest warrant included a trip to NYC the teacher and boy took for a music concert.
During that trip, Picard reportedly told the student, who was 16 at the time, “I’ve always wanted to kiss you,” before initiating their first kiss according to NBC Connecticut.
Meriden music teacher instructed victim to erase back and forth messages
Investigators said Picard also bought the student expensive dinners and gifts and exchanged sexually explicit messages and photos with him.
Documents stated the victim recalling Picard visiting his home after school when his family was not there.
Text messages reviewed by investigators included explicit statements from Picard, including one message that said ‘how bad she wanted’ the victim and the acts she wished to perform.
The alleged victim claimed Picard would send him photos of herself in her underwear. The victim said he would also send her photos of his privates.
The warrant said Picard asked the student to delete the messages, WFSB reported.
When detectives interviewed Picard Aug. 26, she initially denied wrongdoing but later admitted that her interactions with the student had ‘definitely crossed the line.’
Sexual tryst led to victim suffering emotional toll following abuse and exploitation
She also allegedly confessed to telling the student she ‘loved him’, characterizing the relationship as ‘not OK.’ Soon after, Picard resigned from the school.
Picard told police that their relationship ended in 2021 when the student told her he didn’t want to talk to her anymore.
The student eventually revealed to his mother that he had a relationship with Picard, a married woman with two children. The mother urged her son to file a report.
He later told police that he felt he could not say ‘no’ to Picard because she was his direct teacher. He also said he is enrolled in professional therapy as a result of the relationship.
Picard surrendered to police Dec. 2, was released on $25,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 16.
The school district said it is cooperating fully with Meriden police in their investigation.
‘While we cannot comment on the specifics of an ongoing legal matter, we take all allegations of this nature with the utmost seriousness. Our first priority is always to assure the safety and well-being of our students and staff,’ assistant superintendent Louis Bronk said in a statement.
