Dorchester Teaching Assistant In Sex Assault Probe Accused Of Laptop Thefts
BOSTON (CBS) – A Boston public schools teaching assistant accused of lewd behavior was in court Thursday to face separate charges that he stole computers.
LaShawn Hill, 33, was arrested and charged Wednesday with larceny and forgery in the theft of five laptop computers from the Harbor Pilot School in Dorchester, where he was a para-professional.
Hill was ordered held on $3,500 bail after his arraignment on Thursday.
Police say they learned about the thefts while investigating Hill, who is also accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old autistic student who cannot speak. A teacher says she saw Hill and the student with their pants open in a break room at the school.
WBZ-TV's Karen Anderson reports.
According to court officials, Hill will appear before a Clerk Magistrate in a private hearing on Friday to determine whether criminal charges should be filed. If there is enough evidence to move forward with the case, Hill will be arraigned on the lewd and lascivious behavior charge.
Hill has been placed on administrative leave and school officials are taking steps to fire him.
WBZ-TV also has learned more about Hill's background. According to court documents, he was charged with assault and battery in 2009. Police say they were called to his home and he admitted to pushing his wife, who was six and a half months pregnant at the time. Those charges were dropped.
He is also suspected of a similar incident at the King School in Dorchester last year.
Prosecutors said Hill also has a juvenile record.
Hill has worked in the Boston school system for seven years.
His wife, WBZ-TV has learned, runs a day care out of their home. She reportedly kicked Hill, a father of three, out of the house after the allegations surfaced.
A phone hotline has been set up by Boston Public Schools for parents to call if they believe their child is also a victim. The number is 617-635-3050.
WBZ-TV's Karen Anderson contributed to this report.
