New Fairfield School Employee Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Student: Police

CONNECTICUT — A New Fairfield school employee is accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old female student in January, according to state police.

Christopher Fernandes, 26, of Bethel, a paraeducator and coach, turned himself in to police on Wednesday.

Police charged him on a warrant with second-degree sexual assault, fourth-degree sexual assault, use of a computer to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity, harmful communication with a minor, and risk of injury to a minor.

Police were contacted in March, when two students, both juniors at New Fairfield High School, reported Fernandes was inappropriately interacting with a different student, who is now age 15, via text messages, documents show.

Police interviewed the 15-year-old female’s father, who told police his daughter reported being forced to have sexual intercourse in the backseat of Fernandes’ vehicle, an arrest warrant affidavit shows. The teen spoke to police and confirmed the encounter, saying it happened in the backseat of Fernandes’ vehicle on Jan. 21, 2025 in the parking lot of New Fairfield High School, according to police.

Police reviewed school security footage of Fernandes’ vehicle at the school during their investigation, the warrant shows.

Fernandes was arraigned in Superior Court in Danbury on Thursday. He remained in custody as of Friday, held on $350,000 bond, court documents show.

Fernandes has served as a paraeducator at New Fairfield Middle School since the 2023-24 school year and has coached the high school boys’ freshman basketball team for the past three seasons, according to the superintendent’s office.

Kenneth G. Craw, superintendent of schools, said in a May 13 letter to the school community that Fernandes was placed on administrative leave, without prejudice, on March 6, 2025, pending the outcome of the police investigation.

An internal investigation is now underway and ongoing, according to Craw.

“Consistent with our protocols, he has been prohibited from accessing any of our school grounds, including school buildings, and this directive remains in effect,” Craw said, in the letter. “Local law enforcement will be contacted if he attempts to access school grounds. Additionally, Mr. Fernandes' access to District email was disabled, and he was instructed to refrain from communicating with students, parents, or staff members during the course of the investigation.”