Jail Time For Ex-Teacher Who Assaulted Student In Atlantic City

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — A former teacher from Delaware has been sentenced to seven years in state prison on charges of the aggravated sexual assault of a girl who is younger than 16 years old, including during a trip to Atlantic City, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Cary Shill announced.

Thomas Herlihy, 37, of New Castle, Delaware, previously pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated sexual assault. He must serve 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

Herlihy admitted to engaging in a sexual relationship with the girl while she was a student at the Delaware school in which he taught, according to the prosecutor’s office.

As part of the relationship, Herlihy and the victim had sex while they were visiting Atlantic City together on or about June 1, 2016, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The investigation was conducted by the Delaware State Police, the FBI and with the assistance of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.

Herlihy must serve his sentence at the Avenel facility because he was found to be a repetitive and compulsive sex offender, according to the prosecutor’s office.

He will be subject to Megan’s Law registration and parole supervision for life. As part of the Megan’s Law registration, he will not be allowed to have any contact with the victim.