Wallingford Music Teacher Sentenced In Sex Abuse Case: Officials

WALLINGFORD, CT — A man who worked as a musical instructor in Wallingford has been sentenced to eight years in prison in connection with a sex abuse case, according to officials.

Adam Romo, 38, of Portland, was recently sentenced to 20 years in prison, suspended after eight years served, followed by 10 years of probation on two counts of risk of injury to a minor, New Haven State’s Attorney John P. Doyle Jr. announced Friday.

Wallingford police arrested Romo in March 2022 after a lengthy investigation. Romo, who was a Mariachi-style musical instructor at the time, was found to have “established a sexual relationship with a minor who was one of his musical students,” police said at the time.

Police said that “numerous other incidents were discovered where Romo made sexual advances on other students.”

Romo was originally charged by Wallingford police with six counts of risk of injury to a minor, two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault.

Romo pleaded guilty on May 22 to two counts of risk of injury to a minor. He was sentenced by Judge Courtney M. Chaplin during a July 19 hearing at Meriden Superior Court.

Court records state the sexual abuse took place from December 2020 through August 2021 in Wallingford, and the victims were two 15-year-old boys, according to a news release.

“In addressing the defendant directly at sentencing, Judge Chaplin said the defendant’s actions robbed the victims of their innocence and destroyed families, individuals and a community,” officials wrote in the news release.

The cases were investigated by the Wallingford Police Department and the Portland Police Department.