FORT ANN---The former Fort Ann elementary teacher and coach who was arrested last month for allegedly allowing two middle schools to masturbate in front of him has now been charged with second degree sexual abuse for allegedly touching one of the male students with a ruler, telling the student he was measuring his genitalia.

Jared P. Bromley, 26, of Hartford, who was the coach of the school's varsity boys' basketball team, was initially charged with two misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly allowing two 13-year old boys to fondle themselves in front of him in various instances since December 2005. There were no allegations at that time that he had had any sexual contact with them.

State Police arrested Bromley Thursday on the new misdemeanor charge after the Washington County district attorney's office said they believed that Bromley had had sexual contact with one of the boys in the ruler incident.

Police said that the teens allege that Bromley would measure their genitalia, using a masking tape "harness".

Bromley had been charged Feb. 7 after two students said they interrupted an incident involving one of the boys in the coach's office which is located in the boys' locker room at the Washington County school.

Bromley was initially suspended from his teaching duties but later resigned from his fifth grade teaching position and as coach effective March 2.
3-24-07

© 2007 North Country Gazette