According to arrest warrants made by police, a girl younger than 10 was the first person to say that a 24-year-old man touched her inappropriately. This led to the identification of several other victims.
Police in Connecticut say Anthony Mastrangelo was arrested on Tuesday and charged with three counts of putting a child in danger of harm, four counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, one count of first-degree sexual assault, and having sexual contact with a child under 16 without permission.
A warrant says that the first victim told her parents that Mastrangelo had raped and sexually assaulted her. On December 22, 2022, police were informed. It was told to the police that Mastrangelo worked as an after-school counselor for Bethany Parks and Recreation and that the victim went to the program where Mastrangelo worked.
According to the warrant, the first victim also told police about three other possible victims. This led to the parents of those children being called by police. It said that the police asked the parents to talk to their kids about Mastrangelo and find out if anything bad had happened.
Several warrants say that all of the victims said Mastrangelo put his hand down their pants. They also said that some of the victims had seen Mastrangelo touch another victim improperly at the after-school program.
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Bethany Superintendent of Schools Kai Byrd said in a statement that Mastrangelo volunteered, filled in as a teacher sometimes, and worked as an intern at Bethany Community School. She said that Mastrangelo was put on leave right away after the district was told that a possible report about him would be sent to the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.
Byrd says Matrangelo hasn’t done any work in the area since December 2022 and won’t be coming back.
The fifth person who says Mastrangelo raped her said he did it while her sister was in another room and offered to scratch or rub her back each time, the warrant cited by TrumbullTimes.
As stated in the warrants, police tried to call Mastrangelo but he did not answer. While the investigation was going on, Mastrangelo also hired a lawyer. According to the warrants, Mastrangelo’s lawyer’s office told police that Mastrangelo would not be talking to them. The orders also said that Mastrangelo’s lawyer’s office could be reached through them.
The bond for Mastrangelo was set at $500,000. He is due in New Haven Superior Court on July 12, according to state police.
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