Rochester teacher arrested for disturbing allegations

By John Krinjak

Email: jkrinjak@abc6.com

Twitter: @johnkrinjakABC6

ROCHESTER, Mass. (WLNE) — A sixth grade teacher in Rochester has been removed from the classroom after bizarre and disturbing allegations from young girls in his class.

35-year-old James Sullivan of Fairhaven–a sixth grade teacher at Rochester Memorial School–has been charged with assault and battery, and indecent assault and battery of a child under 14, after three students complained last Thursday to an after-school daycare worker.

Sullivan has been placed on administrative leave. 

"I saw it on facebook this morning and thought oh my God," said Brian Gallagher, whose granddaughter attends Rochester Memorial. 

According to the police report, Sullivan inappropriately touched female students–one of them on the buttocks–and made them do gymnastics moves in class, which he would videotape on his iPad.

"In today’s day and age even if it was an innocent hug you can’t do that. So why would a schoolteacher do that? They know better," said grandparent Jacqueline Pittard.

Following an investigation late last week a warrant was issued for Sullivan’s arrest on Friday. He ultimately turned himself in to the Rochester Police Department on Saturday.

"The guy deserves due process, but boy if he did, he’s going to pay his price and be absolutely stopped and kept away from children," said Gallagher. 

Brian Gallagher’s children attended Rochester Memorial, and he says it’s an excellent school, but for his granddaughter who’s in third grade there, he’s concerned.

"It’s awful. The nature of the allegations//I’d probably take things into my own hands if I found out something like that happened to my child," said Gallagher.

Sullivan was arraigned in Wareham Monday morning. 

He was released on personal recognizance.

The school district is also conducting its own internal investigation of these allegations.

© WLNE-TV / ABC6 2018