NEWPORT — A former substitute teacher in Lowell has been sentenced to 5 to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexual assault of a minor student.
Jesse Waldenville, 44, of Lowell, received the sentence from Judge Rory Thibault in Orleans County Superior Court. Waldenville, who taught at Lowell Graded School, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of sexual assault without consent.
Prosecutors dropped several other charges, including repeated aggravated sexual assault of a child, as part of a plea agreement.
The case came to light in May 2023 when Waldenville turned himself in to state police, admitting to inappropriate contact with a minor. According to court documents, he confessed to physical encounters with a female student both at school and during Dungeons and Dragons game nights he hosted at his home.
Waldenville’s wife discovered suspicious online communications between her husband and the teenager. This revelation led to Waldenville’s confession and subsequent arrest.
The victim’s mother expressed concerns about Waldenville’s behavior following his initial arrest, reporting frequent drive-bys of their residence.
State’s Attorney Farzana Leyva emphasized the gravity of the case, citing fears of a potential kidnapping attempt.
