Former Bridgeport science teacher pleads guilty to sex assault

BRIDGEPORT — A former science teacher at Bridgeport Military Academy pleaded guilty Thursday to sexually assaulting two of her students.

Samantha Peck, 32, a teacher at the public high school for six years, pleaded guilty before Superior Court Judge Tracy Lee Dayton to four counts of second-degree sexual assault.

“Are you entering your plea freely and voluntarily?” the judge asked Peck, who stood staring down at the table in front of her.

“Yes ma’am,” Peck replied.

She faces nine months in prison when she is sentenced May 2.

Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Tiffany Lockshier told the judge that she was recommending more prison time for the defendant. However, the judge said she had spent considerable time studying the facts of this case.

“I took several things under consideration,” Dayton said. “Both victims were 18 at the time of these assaults and while that does not diminish the crime, it is something that must be considered.”

In addition, the judge noted that the female student continued to have a consensual relationship with Peck after the student left school.

Peck and her lawyer, John R. Gulash, declined comment as they left the Bridgeport Judicial District Courthouse.

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 send him graphic texts and photos, 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, who is married, told detectives she intended to continue her relationship with the female student, the affidavit states.