Former NHS Choral Director Faces More Criminal Charges

NORWICH — A man who formerly worked as Newtown High School’s choral director has been arrested by Norwich police for his allegedly having violated a judge’s order not to make contact with a 17-year-old girl whom he had allegedly previously sexually assaulted.

John E. Harned, Jr, 33, of West Hartford has entered not guilty pleas in Norwich Superior Court to charges of first-degree violation of the conditions of release and violation of a protective order. Harned, who is free on bail, is scheduled to again appear in court on those charges on April 13.

Norwich police had arrested Harned on a warrant on the two felony charges on January 28.

Last November 16, police arrested Harned on a warrant lodging three counts of second-degree sexual assault in connection with his alleged sexual actions involving a 17-year-old girl for whom he had served as a singing coach in a Norwich community theater production.

Harned also has pleaded not guilty to those three felonies.

Following his initial arrest in November, a judge ordered Harned to have no contact with the victim as a condition of his release on bail.

Harned, however, allegedly later contacted the girl through electronic means including video chat, instant messaging, and text messaging, according to a published report.

Norwich police declined comment on their January 28 arrest of Harned.

Last July, Newtown School Superintendent Janet Robinson confirmed that Harned had resigned his position at the high school. Harned had faced an investigation into unsubstantiated rumors of inappropriate sexual contact with a Newtown student.

Earlier, Harned had been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation took place in the last weeks of the 2009-10 school year, according to Dr Robinson. That investigation included speaking to all connected or knowledgeable persons and also searching telephone records with the assistance of Newtown police.

Last October 29, the Norwich Police Department’s juvenile division had received a complaint from an unidentified “female youth” regarding her having been the victim of sexual assaults by Harned, which resulted in a police investigation into those allegations.

“The assaults took place over the past three months while both Harned and the victim were working together on an event at The Spirit of Broadway Theater,” Norwich police said in November in a statement on their initial arrest of Harned.