--pws
Winchester teacher aide facing child enticement charges involving student
By John R. Ellement, Globe staff
A teacher's aide at a Winchester middle school is facing criminal charges of child enticement for allegedly trying to convince a 13-year-old student to have sex with him, using online conversations as the way to deliver his message, authorities said today.
 Christopher M. French |
"Christopher French is employed as a special education teaching assistant at the McCall Middle School in Winchester,'' said MacDonnell. "And his employment is connected to this investigation.''
French's attorney, David Mortenson, said in a brief telephone conversation that he has instructed French not to discuss the case with anyone and that he expects to see the 28-year-old Winchester resident exonerated.
"As far as we are aware, he has not done anything wrong,'' Mortenson said of French. "We expect to investigate (the allegations) and prove that eventually.''
A spokesman for Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone, Jr., said that French is charged with trying to coerce a female student at the school. "We are continuing to investigate this matter to determine whether additional charges are appropriate,'' spokesman Corey Welford said in a statement.
MacDonnell said police, armed with a search warrant, searched another location yesterday and obtained additional evidence. He declined to say where the second search was conducted. He said a third search warrant had been issued and will be acted on today.
MacDonnell said French was arraigned today in Woburn District Court where he pleaded not guilty to one count of child enticement and was released on $5,000 cash bail. He is due back in court Aug. 8.
According to his biography on his myspace and facebook pages, French is a graduate of Colby College in Maine and is a lifelong resident of Winchester where he has long been active in town-based soccer teams both as a player and a coach.
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