Warrant Details Sex Assault Charges Against Former Tolland HS Teacher

TOLLAND, CT — A warrant served Friday details accusations of an intimate and often sexual relationship between a former teacher and tennis coach at Tolland High School and a student-athlete that often took place on school grounds.

The warrant charges 43-year-old Kris Coffey with two counts of second-degree sexual assault and a single count of fourth-degree sexual assault. He has resigned from his position in the school system after first being placed on administrative leave, officials said.

He spent the weekend at Hartford Correctional Center after failing to post a $150,000 bond. He also failed to post that amount at his Monday arraignment in Rockville Superior Court, according to the clerk's office. The case has been transferred to the Part A docket, reserved for the most serious of criminal cases, and Coffey is due back before a judge on May 12. According to the clerk's office.

He did not enter a plea Monday.

The affair took place about eight years ago and the student was 16 and 17 during the encounters, according to the warrant. State police said they began investigating the claim in early February, when the state Department of Children and Families faxed them a complaint form. Authorities had received an anonymous tip about the relationship that was later confirmed by both Coffey and the girl, according to the warrant.

The warrant outlines testimony describing encounters both in Coffey's classroom, on campus and at off-campus locations. Both testified intercourse was not involved and that at no time did it happen at interscholastic athletic practices or matches. At one point, though, the relationship escalated to include the student "sneaking" into Coffey's classroom in between classes, the warrant states. They also had an encounter after an open house one night near the THS tennis courts, according to the warrant. Coffey would often playfully touch the student and they would kiss passionately when alone in the classroom, according to the warrant. More than touching took place on at least one occasion, according to the warrant.

According to the warrant, Coffey ended the relationship before the student graduated, but they would occasionally communicate via email. At one point over the past several years, he was confronted by a friend of the student and admitted to the affair, according to a warrant.

Tolland schools are on spring break this week. Tolland Superintendent of Schools Walter Willett sent a letter to Tolland families shortly after the arrest. Here is its transcript:

"Tolland Families,

"It is with great sadness that I share this information with you today. I write this communication to inform you that a former staff member of Tolland High School, Mr. Kris Coffey, has been arrested as the result of an investigation by the Connecticut State Police for an incident that occurred many years ago involving a student that attended Tolland High School at the time.

"The district was made aware of the investigation on February 26, 2023, and the staff member involved was immediately placed on administrative leave and subsequently resigned from the Tolland Public Schools.

"The Department of Children and Families and the Connecticut State Police are involved. The district was unaware of the incident at the time it was reported to have occurred and has cooperated immediately and fully from the moment it was informed of the investigation. I have been advised the charges at this time do not involve current Tolland students.

"As educators, we are entrusted to protect and educate all our students and it is critical we maintain appropriate teacher-student relationships and always provide for the safety and wellbeing of our students. School counselors, psychologists, and social workers are available to students, and the school offers programming to support student mental health, safety, and welfare. The Tolland Public Schools will continue to work with students and their families to offer support and services as student and family welfare is of the utmost importance.

"If a counselor is needed during the school break, please call 860-870-6850 extension 1. School officials have been in close contact and in full cooperation with state agencies and law enforcement, and we will continue to cooperate with all agencies and law enforcement authorities.

"As an ongoing criminal investigation, and requirements related to the confidentiality of DCF records, I will not be able to provide further details at this time."