Johnstown woman accused of raping student she was tutoring

Ashley Onyon, The Daily Gazette, Schenectady, N.Y.
Updated ·2 min read

Jun. 28—GLEN — A Johnstown woman accused of raping a 13-year-old student she was tutoring turned herself in to police on Monday, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department.

Kristin M. Bellinger, 39, of Johnstown, was charged with second-degree rape, a class D felony, following a lengthy investigation. She is accused of having sex with a juvenile male over a period of time in 2019.

Bellinger was providing at home tutoring to the child outside of her then-role as a special education teacher with the Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES, deputies said.

The student first reported the allegations to HFM BOCES administrators. Police, the student's family and the state Education Department were notified immediately, according to a press release issued by the district on Tuesday.

Bellinger was placed on immediate leave after the student came forward and is no longer employed by HFM BOCES.

"After these disturbing allegations were brought to our attention, we took immediate steps to address them and cooperated fully with law enforcement," HFM BOCES District Superintendent David Ziskin said in a prepared statement.

Bellinger, accompanied by her attorney, surrendered herself to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department on an arrest warrant on Monday. She was subsequently arraigned in Glen Town Court before Judge James Law and later released on $15,000 bond.

Bellinger is scheduled to reappear in Glen Town Court at a later date. Members of Montgomery County Sheriff's Office were assisted by the New York State Police Forensic Investigation Center and Montgomery County District Attorney Lorraine Diamond.

"We thank the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office for their assistance in this matter. HFM BOCES will continue to aid law enforcement in every way we can," Ziskin said in a prepared statement.

Reach Ashley Onyon at aonyon@dailygazette.net or @AshleyOnyon on Twitter.