Belfast teacher arrested in sexual touching case

BELFAST – Police arrested a teacher from SAD 34’s Troy Howard Middle School on Friday, charging him with two counts of sexual touching and two counts of assault.

Raymond Danielson, 51, of Belmont is an eighth-grade math teacher at the Belfast school.

The alleged victim is a 14-year-old female pupil in one of Danielson’s classes, said Allen Weaver, the chief of police.

The girl made a complaint against Danielson to police on Jan. 19.

The chief has interviewed about a dozen pupils at the school, including some who said they witnessed the touching. The investigation is continuing, with interviews of current and former pupils planned, Weaver said.

Danielson had been the eighth-grade girls basketball coach at the school for several years, but stepped down from that post in the fall before the season began.

Weaver said the touching is not believed to be an isolated incident. Police believe Danielson touched the girl on two occasions.

The sexual touching charge is the result of recent legislation designed to be applied to cases where someone is found to have touched breasts, buttocks or other private areas outside of clothing without consent, Weaver said.

As a 14-year-old, the alleged victim could not legally consent to the touching from a teacher or other adult in a position of authority at the school.

Danielson turned himself in at police headquarters just before 3 p.m. Friday, Weaver said, as part of a deal worked out between police and his attorney. He was expected to be released on personal recognizance bail, the chief said.

Bail conditions include that Danielson have no contact, direct or indirect, with the victim, or with anyone under the age of 17. He is also banned from entering any SAD 34 schools.

Danielson is scheduled to make an initial court appearance Tuesday.

SAD 34 administrators could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.