Former guidance counselor at Weaver High School accused of sexually assaulting student

A former guidance counselor at Weaver High School has been arrested on sexual assault charges in connection with accusations he had an inappropriate relationship with a student at the school.

Bryan Bass, 37, of Manchester was arrested last Thursday by both the Hartford and Bloomfield police departments, according to state Judicial Branch records. His attorney said he denies the allegations.

Court records filed in the Hartford arrest indicate he faces two counts of second-degree sexual assault of a student and one count of fourth-degree sexual assault of a student. In the Bloomfield matter, Bass faces one count of second-degree sexual assault of a student.

Bass was initially being held in lieu of $100,000 bail following an appearance at Superior Court in Hartford last Thursday, during which a judge issued two protective orders barring him from contacting the alleged victim in the cases, court papers and state Department of Correction records indicate. Online court records show he is now released on bond.

The arrest warrants in the cases have been ordered sealed by a judge. Bass has not entered a plea and is due back in court on Feb. 6.

Jesse Sugarman, a spokesperson for Hartford Public Schools, told The Courant that Bass was hired by the school district “at the beginning” of the 2022-23 school year and “was placed on leave before the end of the year.”

“He is no longer employed by Hartford Public Schools,” Sugarman said in response to requests for comment from both the principal at Weaver and the superintendent of schools regarding Bass’ employment status.

The state Department of Children and Families confirmed that the agency conducted its own investigation into the allegations along with police.

“Given this is an active criminal investigation, we cannot disclose the details of our findings nor comment any further,” a DCF spokesperson said.

According to the Hartford Police Department, patrol officers were dispatched to Weaver High School in June 2023, for a sexual assault complaint. Police said the victim identified the suspect as a “school social worker.”

The Special Investigations Division learned of the complaint and assigned a detective to investigate, according to police. Hartford detectives later obtained a warrant for Bass on sexual assault charges and he turned himself in last week, police said.

Details supporting the charge filed by Bloomfield police were not immediately available Thursday.

Nate Baber, an attorney representing the alleged victim in the cases against Bass, told The Courant he expects to file a lawsuit against the city of Hartford and the Board of Education within the next week or so now that Bass has been arrested. He said he filed an intent to sue with the city clerk’s office in August.

According to the intent to sue, Baber alleges hiring Bass was the result of negligence. The intent to sue states that the allegations span between January and June 2023 and involved an alleged victim who was under 18 at the time.

Baber said Bass was not his client’s guidance counselor.

Baber said his client — who has since graduated from Weaver High School — has come to terms with what allegedly happened and realizes now that it was not their fault. He said his client has undergone therapy.

The attorney said his client has an “incredible mother” and support system, which has helped the client get through this difficult time.

Baber said, “It’s been an awful experience.”

The attorney said the lawsuit is not just about getting money for his client, as he hopes it brings about new procedures.

Ismian Feraizi, who represents Bass in the criminal proceedings, told The Courant his client “100%” (contests) the allegations and maintains his innocence.

“We’re confident given the allegations the truth is going to prevail,” Feraizi said. “Right now he’s presumed innocent, thankfully, but we’re still in the evidence-gathering stage.”

Feraizi called it a “precarious case,” citing the fact his client was served with civil litigation paperwork “many months” before he was arrested. He said Bass has been cooperative with police and turned himself in as soon as he learned there was a warrant for his arrest. He also said Bass resigned from the school district during the investigation.

“We’re confident once all the discovery is complete, once the case is resolved, the truth will come out,” Feraizi said.

According to Feraizi, the allegations were reported by other students of the school and not the alleged victim. When the (alleged victim) was asked about the allegations they initially said “No, no, nothing happened,” according to Feraizi.

Feraizi added that his client has a long road ahead of him, but he is getting by with support from family members and the community.

“He’s got his family’s support and his pastor was there to support him at his arraignment, so he’s got support from the community,” Feraizi said.