Former Tolland High School Teacher Sentenced To Serve Prison Time

TOLLAND, CT — A former teacher at Tolland High School has been ordered to spend two years in prison, with eight more years hanging in a probational balance in a student sexual assault case, court officials said.

Tolland State's Attorney Matthew C. Gedansky said that Superior Court Judge Kathleen E. McNamara sentenced 43-year-old Kris Coffey Friday to 10 years in prison, execution suspended after two years served, followed by 10 years of probation, for second-degree sexual assault.

Coffey is previously of Coventry and appeared in Rockville Superior Court Friday.

McNamara, during Friday's hearing, also ordered Coffey to register as a sex offender with the Connecticut Registry.

Coffey's sentencing follows his arrest in April in connection with an incident that occurred in Tolland, Gedansky said. That's where he served as an English teacher and tennis team coach for Tolland High School.

A Department of Children and Families complaint was generated in February regarding Coffey having a past inappropriate sexual relationship with a student, a warrant shows. The complaint led to an investigation by both DCF and the Connecticut State Police Troop C, according to case records.

After obtaining statements from the student, witnesses and Coffey, they discovered that Coffey engaged in an inappropriate relationship with her at Tolland High School in 2014 through 2015, which escalated to Coffey engaging in sexual intercourse with her in his classroom, according to case records.

Other encounters were outlined in a warrant, but never at tennis practice or matches, according to a warrant.

"It is both baffling and appalling that we still need to send the message that teachers cannot have sexual relationships with their students," Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Jaclyn Preville said.

She prosecuted the case.

She added, "The inherent power dynamic of teacher over student places all responsibility on the teacher to maintain professional boundaries. I hope this sentencing today is a strong message to those entrusted with children and young adults that this behavior is completely unacceptable and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent."