Former Mass. teacher facing child molestation charges

FALL RIVER (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) A 58-year-old Fall River man and long-time teacher at Dighton Middle School is facing child molestation charges after one of his former football players accused him of abuse.

Jesse Perry was arrested on Jan. 4 in Middletown, R.I. on one count each of first degree and second degree child molestation.

Police say a young man came forward two weeks ago claiming he was abused for six years by Perry dating back to 1991. The victim reportedly met Perry while playing on his football team and moved in with him because of a strained home life. That is when the alleged abuse began.

Perry's arrest came after a grand jury indictment of his brother, Richard Perry of Warren, R.I., who is also facing similar charges.

The 58-year-old was held without bail at his arraignment on Monday.

Perry is also facing firearms charges out of Fall River.

Fall River Police say they found two pistols and a rifle while executing a search warrant at Perry's Beattie Street apartment. He was charged with three counts of possessing a firearm without a FID card, one count of possessing ammunition without a FID card, and improper storage of a firearm after police learned he was not licensed to possess firearms in Mass.

Perry worked as a sixth grade teacher at Dighton Middle School until his retirement in 2012, reports Wicked Local Rehoboth. He formerly lived in Bristol, R.I. where he was a Pop Warner Football and Little League Baseball coach.

The Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District issued a statement on their website Tuesday afternoon thanking everyone for their patience and understanding.

"We are aware of the situation and have been in close and regular contact with the police over the past few days. If anyone has any information that they would like to report, please contact the Dighton Police directly at their non-emergency number: 508-669-6711. If any student would like any kind of support, they should see their building administrator or guidance counselor."

Perry is scheduled for a bail hearing on Jan 18 for the R.I. charges.

Cox Media Group