Bridgewater-Raritan Teacher, Coach Arrested For Sex Assault Of Student

RARITAN, NJ — A former Bridgewater-Raritan high school teacher and lacrosse coach was charged with sexual assault of a student, announced Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr, and Raritan Borough Police Department Chief Raymond Nolte.

Lydia Pinto, 38, of Newton, Pennsylvania was charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault of a former student which occurred in Raritan Borough.

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

On Oct. 26, 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 victim reported engaging in a relationship with the former teacher, 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.

The years of the assault were not released.

The incidents of sexual conduct happened in Raritan Borough, said McDonald.

Pinto coached the Girls Lacrosse team for Bridgewater-Raritan High School, according to the school's website.

As a result of an investigation by detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit and the Raritan Borough Police Department, on Nov. 8, Pinto was taken into custody without incident in Franklin.

Pinto was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing in this matter.

Anyone with information relating to the sexual assault is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Raritan Borough Police Department at 908-725-6200 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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