Sentencing set for Friday of former Auburn music teacher found guilty of raping fifth-grade student
WORCESTER — The former Auburn music teacher found guilty of raping a fifth-grade student more than a dozen years ago will be sentenced in Superior Court on Friday.
Stephen B. Jaszek, 66, of 308 North Main St., South Hadley, was found guilty of two counts of statutory rape of a child, two counts of aggravated rape of a child (five-year age difference) and aggravated indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.
After a three-day, jury-waived trial, Judge William J. Ritter made the ruling May 12.
Jaszek, who retired in 2014 after teaching 35 years, was the victim's music teacher at Julia Bancroft Elementary School in Auburn.
Assistant District Attorney Matthew Corey said the sexual abuse started when the girl was in the fifth grade.
The accuser, now 23, took the stand as the first witness.
She said she didn’t tell anybody for years because she was ashamed. She said she was told by her music teacher that if she told her mother, who at the time was being treated for cancer, that she would die sad and mad.
After an art teacher unexpectedly stopped by during recess, Jaszek never again sexually abused her, she said.
Kenneth H. Anderson, lawyer for the defense, said Jaszek was innocent and that the worse thing in his client’s file is him being cited for getting angry at students.
More: Trial in Worcester: Accuser, 23, says Auburn music teacher raped her when she was in 5th grade
More: Accuser in alleged child rape involving former Auburn music teacher returns to stand
More: Ex-Auburn music teacher Stephen Jaszek found guilty of raping fifth-grade student
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Sentencing set for Friday of former Auburn music teacher found guilty of raping fifth-grade student
