Crime & Safety

LI Teacher Charged With Raping Former Student

The 54-year-old teacher was arrested at his home Friday afternoon, police say.

MEDFORD, NY – A Long Island middle school teacher who had an "inappropriate sexual relationship" with a former student has been charged with rape, Suffolk Police said.

Special Victims Section detectives, assisted by Computer Crimes Unit detectives, arrested 54-year-old Thomas Barton at his home on Lincoln Road in Medford at about 4:45 p.m.

Barton had a sexual relationship with 16-year-old girl who was a former student of his at North Middle School in Brentwood, police said.

Find out what's happening in Medfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Barton, who makes $146,202 a year as a physical education teacher according to the Empire Center, is charged with third degree rape, third degree criminal sex act and endangering the welfare of a child.

The investigation is continuing and detectives are asking anyone with information to contact the Special Victims Section at 631-852-6531.

Find out what's happening in Medfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

In October, a 33-year-old teacher at Lawrence Woodmere Academy in Woodmere was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a student beginning when she was 14 years old.

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