Former Stratford Teacher's Aide Heads To Prison In Sex Case

STRATFORD, CT — Tuesday’s nor’easter postponed the scheduled sentencing for former Stratford teacher's aide Kyle Damato-Kushel, 48, on charges that she sexually assaulted a 15-year-old boy but she headed off to prison on Wednesday morning anyway, according to the Connecticut Post.

Daniel Tepfer of the Post reports the sentencing was continued to April 13 because the victim’s lawyer couldn’t be in court Wednesday but Damato-Kushel was prepared to go to prison so her bond was raised so that she would be immediately incarcerated at her lawyer's request. She will get credit for each day served prior to sentencing.

Damato-Kushel, who worked at Wooster Middle School and had been the victim's preschool teacher, faces up to 18 months in prison after she pleaded guilty in January just as the case was heading to trial.

Stratford Police arrested Damato-Kushel in December 2015 following an investigation that began Oct. 1 of that year when police were contacted regarding allegations of inappropriate conduct by an adult female and a juvenile victim. She was charged with second-degree sexual assault, illegal sexual contact with a minor, fourth-degree sexual assault where the victim is a student and tempering with a witness. Damato-Kushel pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury in the plea agreement, according to Tepfer.

The 15-year-old victim told police that he had been having sex with Damato-Kushel since 2013 when he was in seventh grade and the relationship was discovered by Damato-Kushel's husband in their Stratford home, according to previous reports.

Damato-Kushel was accused of offering the boy $900 to keep their relationship a secret, according to the Post.

Read more about Wednesday’s court appearance at the Connecticut Post here.

Stratford Police Department photo