West Hartford Police said Friday that a 47-year-old male teacher at the New England Jewish Academy was arrested by warrant and faces charges of sexually assaulting a minor student.

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Police were notified on June 6, 2024, that the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) had received a complaint of inappropriate touching of a student by a teacher at the New England Jewish Academy, located at 300 Bloomfield Avenue in West Hartford, and following an investigation police arrested a 47-year-old Thomaston man on Thursday.

Capt. Daniel Moffo said Friday that the Detective Division immediately began investigating “an allegation that a teacher at the New England Jewish Academy inappropriately touched a juvenile student” after receiving the notification from DCF.

Following a thorough investigation, Moffo said police obtained a signed warrant and charged Roger Katz, 47, of Thomaston, with fourth-degree sexual assault by a school employee where the victim is under 16 years of age, risk of injury to a child, and second-degree breach of peace.

Katz was arrested on Thursday and remained in custody on $200,000 court-set surety bod, police said. He was due to be arraigned Friday in Hartford Superior Court.

We-Ha.com has reached out to New England Jewish Academy requesting further information about when the school was notified about the allegations, their role in the investigation, and whether or not Katz is still employed by the school. His name is still listed among the faculty on the NEJA website.

Police ask that anyone who may have information regarding this incident, or other similar incidents, contact the West Hartford Police Department through the anonymous tip line 860-570-8969 or via email at [email protected].

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