Griswold Fencing Coach Arrested Amid Claims Of Sexual Misconduct Involving 14-Year-Old

GRISWOLD, CT — A fencing coach for the Griswold Public Schools has been arrested on sexual misconduct charges involving a teenager and is now on administrative leave from the district.

James Buchas, 31, of Griswold, was charged on a warrant July 20 with three counts, including risk of injury to a child, fourth-degree sexual assault, and harmful communication with a minor.

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State police received a complaint on Feb. 25 from a 14-year-old girl reporting she had received an alarming text from Buchas, an arrest warrant affidavit shows.

The teen, who does not attend Griswold schools, reported receiving Snapchat messages in which he expresses his feelings for her.

Buchas had spent time in the 14-year-old's home because he was in a relationship with one of her relatives, the warrant shows.

The girl reported waking up on numerous occasions, approximately 10 to 20 times, to find him sleeping in her bed, the warrant states. The 14-year-old said she had been inappropriately touched on one occasion, according to the warrant.

She told investigators he made uncomfortable statements about her body, court documents show. According to the warrant, one message said, "How do you think we would be in a relationship together?"

When questioned by police, Buchas claimed he had fallen asleep in the girl's bed after they had been talking, and he denied any sexual contact with her, the warrant shows.

Sean P. McKenna, superintendent of the Griswold Public Schools, said he sent an email to the school community on Wednesday. The email does not mention Buchas by name.

According to McKenna, Buchas had been working as a part-time fencing coach for the district.

"Upon being contacted by law enforcement regarding their initial investigation, the District immediately placed this individual on administrative leave," McKenna said, in the email.

McKenna told the school community the minor in question is not a Griswold student.

"(Buchas) remains off district property and has no contact with our students or programs," McKenna said. "The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and school community remain our absolute highest priority."

Buchas' defense attorney, Samuel Nassetta, said in an emailed statement Thursday, "While Mr. Buchas has been charged, the allegations against him remain just that, allegations. Criminal charges are not convictions, nor should they be treated as such. Too often, conclusions are drawn before the facts have been fully examined and tested through the legal process. Mr. Buchas is entitled to the presumption of innocence, and we urge the public to withhold judgment until all of the evidence is presented and evaluated in court. Fairness and due process require nothing less."

Buchas was added to the U.S. Center for SafeSport's Centralized Disciplinary Database in September.

Court documents show Buchas is barred from any contact with the complainant and prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with minor females under 18 years of age.

Buchas is next due in Superior Court in New London on Oct. 15.