ICYMI: FORMER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER ARRESTED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A MINOR IN RARITAN BOROUGH

ARITAN BOROUGH, N.J. – Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr, and Raritan Borough Police Department Chief Raymond Nolte announced the arrest of Lydia Pinto, age 38, of Newton, Pennsylvania in relation to the sexual assault of a former student which occurred in Raritan Borough.Prosecutor McDonald stated that on October 16, 2023, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit were notified by the Bridgewater Police Department of an anonymous email alleging an inappropriate relationship between a teacher and a former student. 

On October 26, 2023, the former student victim, now an adult, was identified and interviewed by detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit and the Raritan Borough Police Department. 

The victim reported engaging in a relationship with former teacher, Lydia Pinto. The victim further reported that 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. The incidents of sexual conduct were reported to have occurred in Raritan Borough (Somerset County). Further investigation was conducted by detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit and the Raritan Borough Police Department.

As a result of this investigation, on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, Defendant Pinto was taken into custody without incident in Franklin Township, New Jersey. Defendant Pinto was charged with 1st-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault and two counts of 2nd-degree Sexual Assault. Defendant Pinto was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing in this matter. Prosecutor McDonald, Chief Roman, and Chief Nolte request that anyone with information relating to the sexual assault to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit at (908) 231-7100 or the Raritan Borough Police Department at (908) 725-6200 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential. NOTE: The charges are merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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