Waterbury Teacher Accused Of Sending Inappropriate Texts To 16-Year-Old Student

A Waterbury teacher and assistant band director is accused of sending inappropriate text messages to a 16-year-old female student.

State police on Tuesday arrested Philip Carl Hughes, 42, of Jeremy Swamp Road, Southbury, on a warrant. Hughes is charged with one count of harmful communication with a minor.

According to police, Hughes was working as a technology education teacher at a Waterbury high school, a position he had been hired for in March 2025.

Hughes was put on paid administrative leave on Dec. 31, pending the outcome of the police investigation, court documents show.

The juvenile’s mother told police on Dec. 31 her daughter had been receiving “inappropriate messages” from Hughes, her teacher and assistant band director. The juvenile’s mother reported her daughter received messages around 3 a.m., with Hughes sending messages such as “Call me Baby girl, call me.” She reported he sent her daughter screen shots of her deleted TikTok account, and made comments about her wearing a red dress and a cat outfit.

“These inappropriate messages made (the juvenile) feel afraid and (she) deleted all her text messages and calls with Hughes,” the warrant shows.

The juvenile told police Hughes had sent his personal number to her, and said things like, “Am I just a teacher to you, because you are more than a student to me.” She told police he would repeatedly call her “baby girl” and began to send her images from her deleted TikTok videos.

Investigators forensically examined the juvenile’s phone to find deleted communications.

“These messages show Hughes deliberately attempting to persuade and entice (the juvenile) by knowingly engaging in a pattern of communication,” police said.

The investigation revealed a series of texts, sent around 3 a.m., including texts which called the juvenile, “baby girl.” Another text read, “On clothes?” and another said, “Feel free to share images as such.” A message reads, “I tuck you in,” and one said, “I kiss your forehead, sleep well baby girl,” for example, the warrant shows.

Hughes posted a $50,000 bond, and he is due to appear in Superior Court in Waterbury on March 3.