Ex-Bridgeport teacher rejects plea in sex assault case

BRIDGEPORT — A former science teacher at Bridgeport Military Academy, accused of sexually assaulting two of her students, rejected a 5-year plea bargain sentence.

“I am rejecting the offer,” Samantha Peck told Superior Court Judge Kevin Russo as she stood before the judge Wednesday.

The judge then assigned the case for trial in the near future.

Both Peck and her lawyer, John R. Gulash, declined to comment as they left the Fairfield County Courthouse.

Peck, 31, a teacher at the public high school for six years, is charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault and is free after posting $100,000 bond. She could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of both charges.

During the brief hearing she told the judge she is now working two jobs as a waitress.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, in October 2021, Fairfield police received information from students at the Bridgeport school that Peck was having “inappropriate sexual relationships” with two of her students, a male and a female. Fairfield police subsequently notified Bridgeport police, which took over the investigation.

The affidavit states that Peck would openly show affection to the two students in the classroom and leave them gifts and love letters.

The male victim later told police that he and Peck had sexual relations at a party of other students, the affidavit states.

He also told police that Peck would text him lewd photographs of herself along with and a description of sex acts she wished to perform with him, the affidavit states.

The affidavit continues that the female student told police that she had sexual contact with

Peck numerous times in the classroom when they were alone. The student said Peck told her she wanted to be the student’s “girlfriend,” the affidavit states.

The affidavit states that when detectives confronted Peck with the allegations, she admitted that she had a “sexual relationship” with both the students.

Peck told detectives she intended to continue her relationship with the female student, the affidavit states.