A former Long Island art teacher, John Kennedy, 53, has been arrested for allegedly stalking a former student he is accused of raping. The incident occurred after the student called 911, reporting that she saw Kennedy following her after leaving her home in Bay Shore on Thursday morning, according to Suffolk County police.
A police spokesperson stated, "Suffolk County Police today arrested a high school teacher for stalking a former student that he had sexual affairs with previously." Kennedy was arrested at his St. James home on Thursday evening.
The alleged stalking follows a lawsuit filed by the now 18-year-old victim against the Bay Shore school district, claiming that administrators failed to protect her from Kennedy, whom she described as a “serial sexual predator.” The lawsuit details that Kennedy raped her in his classroom while she was a senior in his art class.
Prosecutors allege that Kennedy drove by the victim's home multiple times over the past month and followed her on her way to college, despite being instructed to leave her alone due to her fear for her safety.
Kennedy, who was previously placed on administrative leave after the initial allegations surfaced, has pleaded not guilty to fourth-degree stalking, a misdemeanor. A temporary order of protection has been issued for the victim, and he is scheduled to appear in court on September 16.
This case is part of a broader pattern of alleged sexual misconduct involving Bay Shore teachers. In November 2024, the district was ordered to pay $25 million in damages related to a case involving a retired teacher accused of abusing students for over three decades. Another incident involved a teacher's assistant charged with raping a 15-year-old student in 2017.
The New York Post was unable to locate a working phone number for Kennedy.