Prostitution, Human Trafficking Charges Against Former Headmaster of Braintree School Dismissed

BRAINTREE, MA — Charges against the former headmaster of a private school in Braintree have been dismissed.

Steven Bliss, 44, of Braintree, was arrested in September and charged with charged with offering to engage in sex for a fee and human trafficking. Both charges were dismissed Nov. 30 in Worcester Central District Court, according to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.

Police alleged that Bliss offered to engage in sexual conduct for a fee during numerous conversations with undercover officers and had allegedly agreed to meet an undercover officer at a McDonald's in Worcester for the purpose of engaging in sex for a fee.

The motion to dismiss the sexual conduct for a fee charge was filed by Bliss' lawyer, Frances A. King and was requested "for lack of prosecution." The dismissal of the human trafficking charge was requested by Assistant District Attorney Alyssa Kilmurray. She wrote in her motion that the dismissal was "in the interest of justice."

Both charges were dismissed without prejudice, meaning Bliss could possibly be retried on the charges.

King said her client would pursue all civil actions legally available to set the record straight.

Bliss was the principal of Dover-Sherborn High School from 2013-2015 and was a finalist for the Braintree Public Schools superintendent opening in 2015. He later became the headmaster of CATS Academy in Braintree, where he is no longer employed.