Former Plymouth elementary school teacher James Eschert, 53, faced community backlash as he walked free with a suspended sentence on Tuesday in the New Britain Superior Court. Eschert admitted to one count of risk of injury to a minor, a felony charge related to allegations of inappropriately touching multiple female students over several years.
If convicted on all charges, including five counts of sexual assault and two misdemeanor counts of sexual assault in the fourth degree, Eschert could have faced a potential sentence exceeding 50 years. The controversy surrounding the case began when Plymouth police arrested Eschert on January 24, 2022, following accusations of inappropriate conduct with several juvenile students.
Despite the gravity of the charges, Eschert entered an Alford plea, maintaining his innocence while acknowledging sufficient evidence for conviction. Judge Maureen Keegan sentenced him to five years of probation, with a looming suspended 10-year jail sentence if he violates the terms.
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Eschert, an educator in the Plymouth school system since 1998, came under scrutiny in September 2021 when a former student, then in middle school, reported alleged past misconduct to Eli Terry Jr Middle School Principal Angela Suffridge. Subsequent investigations reduced the original seven charges of risk of injury to a child and sexual assault to one.
One student detailed daily inappropriate touching, including shoulder rubbing and breast touching over clothing. Allegations included an incident where Eschert touched a student’s breasts directly. Sëxualized photos of female students were reportedly taken at school, with 26 “inappropriate” images found on a recovered camera, including close-ups during a cartwheel and images exposing students’ groins and underwear.
According to affidavits, Eschert invited girls to sit on his lap, allegedly positioning his gënitals near their faces. Some students reported instances where the teacher touched himself over his clothing. Eschert’s behavior extended to inviting girls to his home, offering them dinner.
The lenient sentencing prompted outrage from at least one father of an alleged victim, who expressed concern during the hearing about the lifelong trauma inflicted on the children. He criticized the court, stating, “Really? That’s the best you could do?” He vehemently argued that Eschert, whom he labeled a “monster,” should be incarcerated for engaging in “vile, disgusting, and perverted conduct.” The father emphasized the need for the former teacher to face consequences for the lasting impact on the victims, including his own daughter.
