Former teacher won’t be prosecuted
Figure in New London schools sex scandal had been accused of not reporting suspected child abuse
The New London State’s Attorney’s office has decided to not prosecute former Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School teacher Melissa Rodriguez for failing to report suspected child abuse after speculating in text messages with the school behavioral specialist that school employees were having sex with students.
Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Theresa Anne Ferryman entered a “nolle” in the case Monday when Rodriguez appeared in New London Superior Court.
Ferryman said when the state looked at Rodriguez’s case last year during a wide-ranging investigation involving Corriche Gaskin and other employees of New London Public Schools, there was sufficient evidence to charge Rodriguez. When she looked at the case later in context with all the information that has been gathered, Ferryman said she didn’t think the state had the evidence needed to prove Rodriquez guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Rodriguez, 36, of Montville, left the courtroom with her attorney, Brian Dumeer. She had resigned her position as a dual language teacher on May 6, 2019, three days after she was placed on paid administrative leave by Superintendent Cynthia Ritchie, “pending the outcome of an internal investigation.” She was charged later that month with failure of a mandated reporter to report abuse, neglect or injury to a child or imminent risk of serious harm to a child.
Rodriguez had initially been hired as a substitute teacher of English as a Second Language in 2011. Then known as Melissa Valentin, she resigned in 2012 after being convicted for a role in a mortgage fraud scheme.
She was rehired in 2013, according to school records.
According to court documents, Rodriguez was friendly with Gaskin, 36, of Groton, the behavioral specialist who is charged with having sex with underage female students and recording video of the encounters. He remains incarcerated and has pleaded not guilty to second-degree sexual assault, child pornography possession, voyeurism with malice, dissemination of voyeuristic material and multiple counts of risk of injury to a minor.
New London police said they discovered a March 3, 2019, text conversation between Rodriguez and Gaskin after seizing Gaskin’s cellphone. During an interview with police in May, Rodriguez characterized the text exchange as gossip.
In the texts, Rodriguez and Gaskin discussed whether middle school paraprofessional Jevon Elmore, known as “Jigg,” and others were having sex with students.
During the March 3, 2019, text exchange, police said Rodriguez wrote that she could tell Elmore was having sex with young girls.
“He wants to (expletive) (the victim),” Rodriguez texted. “I don’t like how he looks at her.”
“Wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t link up already,” Gaskin responded.
Elmore, 26, who worked as a paraprofessional and high school track coach, was arrested in connection with the investigation and charged with having sex with a student. He has pleaded not guilty to second-degree assault and has a case pending in the same court.
The state Office of the Child Advocate is conducting an investigation into student safety and abuse prevention in the New London school district.