Bridgewater-Raritan HS Teacher, Coach Pleads Guilty To Sex Assault Of Student

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A former Bridgewater-Raritan High School teacher and lacrosse coach has pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a student.

Lydia Pinto, 38, of Newton, Pennsylvania pled guilty on Nov. 6 in front of Judge Peter J. Tober to second-degree sexual assault.

The plea agreement is for five years in New Jersey State Prison along with conditions including no contact with the victim, parole supervision for life, Megan's Law registration, and surrender of teaching certificate.

She is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 20, however, she must undergo an evaluation at Avenel Diagnostic and Treatment Center first.

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.

Since the arrest, 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

The district filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit but it was denied by Somerset County Superior Court Judge Wendy A. Reek in August 2024.

Randall J. Peach of Woolson Anderson Peach, P.C. in Somerville is representing the student victim. Peach said the lawsuit remains in the discovery phase at this time.

Peach also encouraged any other victims to reach out to his office.

The Bridgewater-Raritan school district did not immediately return Patch's request for comment.

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