Bridgewater-Raritan HS Teacher Sentenced In Sex Assault Of Student

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A former Bridgewater-Raritan High School teacher and lacrosse coach was sentenced for the sexual assault of a student.

Lydia Pinto, 40, of Newton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 364 days in County Jail by Judge Peter J. Tober on Feb. 14. She had previously pleaded guilty on Nov. 6 to second-degree sexual assault as part of a plea agreement.

"In the matter of State vs Lydia Pinto, the State recommended 5 years State Prison in accordance with the plea agreement, however, the Judge sentenced her within the third-degree range to 364 days in county jail," said Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Deputy Chief Frank Roman.

Randall J. Peach of Woolson Anderson Peach, P.C. in Somerville, who is representing the student victim in a lawsuit against the school district, called the sentencing a "disgrace"and a "slap in the face" to the victim.

"They gave her 364 days," said Peach. "It's not even a lawful sentence."

Patch reached out to Somerset County Jail for comment and was referred to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office by Warden Tim Pino.

The student, identified only by the fictitious name of Jane Doe, and her mother filed a lawsuit in Somerset County Superior Court against the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District on Feb. 8, 2024, claiming Pinto sexually groomed her and repeatedly sexually assaulted and abused her over four years. Read More: Student Sues Bridgewater-Raritan Schools Over Alleged Repeated Teacher Sex Assault

Peach said as of May 5, the lawsuit still remains in the discovery phase.

Arrest

Pinto was initially charged in November 2023 with first-degree aggravated sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault of a former student, which occurred in Raritan Borough.

Pinto taught health and physical education and was one of the driver’s ed instructors. Pinto was also the girls’ lacrosse coach.

On Oct. 16, 2023, Bridgewater Police got an anonymous email alleging an inappropriate relationship between a teacher and a former student.

On Oct. 26, 2023, the former student victim, now an adult, was interviewed by detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit and the Raritan Borough Police Department.

The student victim reported engaging in a relationship with Pinto. The victim said the relationship turned sexual when the victim was between the ages of 14 to 15 and continued until the victim’s senior year of high school, said authorities.

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