Teacher’s aide accused of sex assault
A teacher’s aide at Washington High School was charged Friday by Washington police for allegedly having sex with a student inside her car at Washington Cemetery.
Tracy Ardeno, 45, of 185 Wellington Ave., Washington, was charged with institutional sexual assault after she and the high school senior, who is over 18, reportedly had sex in her vehicle early last month. The definition of institutional sexual assault includes an employee of a school who has sex with a student.
A teacher alerted school district officials after reportedly seeing Ardeno Dec. 3 picking up the teen at the Subway restaurant directly across from the high school on Jefferson Avenue.
Dr. Roberta DiLorenzo, school district superintendent, said Ardeno was removed from the school when the allegations came to light.
She said she could not divulge whether Ardeno, who was employed by the district for 13 years, is being paid.
“There are procedures I have to follow,” DiLorenzo said Friday.
DiLorenzo and Officer Todd Foreman, who filed the charges, both said it does not appear the two had any physical contact at the school.
Court documents indicate Ardeno started talking to the student about his tattoos and smile in late November. The two are seen on school surveillance video throughout the high school talking with each other.
“It appears to be like flirting,” Foreman said.
Between Dec. 3 and 8, the two reportedly drove around the Washington area and ended up at the cemetery.
On Dec. 8, Ardeno reportedly spotted the student and approached him on West Chestnut Street, according to court documents. She allegedly told him “I’ve been suspended. What have you told them?” Ardeno also reportedly asked the student “What is going on with us?”
Foreman said it appears the two had sex on just one occasion.
DiLorenzo said the investigation is continuing.
“We continue to keep the safety and security of our students at the forefront,” DiLorenzo said.
The charge, which is a felony, will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger. A preliminary hearing has not yet been scheduled.