Middletown Police Decline to Charge Teacher

The Middletown Police Department has concluded its investigation into a potential relationship between 39-year-old Patrick Aylward, a teacher at Middletown High School, and a 17-year-old female student, saying they have not found sufficient evidence to charge the teacher.

Police were investigating a possible third degree sexual assault with the student after she allegedly told Fall River police she was having an intimate relationship with the teacher. The state's legal age of consent is 16, said police.  

Portsmouth police charged Aylward on Feb 17 with domestic simple assault after he allegedly head-butted the student at Founder's Brook Motel in Portsmouth.  Motel staff told Patch Aylward had rented a room at the motel many times since last fall. 

On March 4, the female student allegedly smashed a window and entered Aylward's house in Fall River.  Police said Aylward's wife used pepper spray on the girl. 

Police said Aylward initially denied knowing the girl but later said she was a student at Middletown High School. 

The girl told police she had been having an intimate relationship with Aylward for the past two years and had sex with the teacher many times in Middletown and Portsmouth.  She told police that Aylward pays for her cell phone.

Last July, Middletown police said they responded to a domestic argument between Aylward and the student at the Comfort Inn Motel.  Aylward reportedly told police he was a mentor-figure for the girl.

The relationship is still under investigation by the Middletown School Department.  He remains on paid leave, according to Middletown Superintendent Rosemarie Kraeger.