South Coast teacher convicted of indecent assault, raping, former student he groomed, victimized

PLYMOUTH – Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz announced today that a former South Coast teacher has been convicted of rape and multiple counts of indecent assault following allegations that he groomed and victimized one of his students.

Andre Arsenault, 37, of Marion, was found guilty after a three-day jury trial and one additional day of deliberations on nine counts of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over, one count of assault with intent to rape, and one count of rape. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 19.

The case came to light in October 2022 when a former student at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School reported to Rochester Police that Arsenault, her Culinary Arts teacher, had groomed and sexually abused her. The inappropriate behavior began in 2018 and escalated into physical assaults that occurred between 2021 and 2022.

“Teachers in our community hold a great deal of power over our children and have the ability to help them succeed in life. Rather than working to better our community, Andre Arsenault used this privileged position to prey upon a student,” DA Cruz said. “I am proud of the young woman who came forward and testified in order to secure Arsenault’s conviction today. It is because of her bravery that he will no longer be in a position to victimize anyone else.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney James Duffy and investigated by the Rochester Police Department.