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Ex-Stamford Teacher Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Student Arrested Again

STAMFORD, Conn. – A former Stamford High School teacher accused of having sex with a student was arrested Friday after police said she threatened that student.

Former Stamford High School teacher Danielle Watkins.

Former Stamford High School teacher Danielle Watkins.

Photo Credit: Stamford Police Department

Danielle Watkins, 32, of Norwalk, was charged with second-degree threatening and violation of conditions of release. She was held on $25,000 bond.

Watkins was first arrested in July 2014, after police said it was discovered that she carried on a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old student between September 2013 and June 2014. Police said that she also provided marijuana to the 18-year-old, as well as to a 15-year-old student.

She accepted a deal in December and pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor. She faces up to four years in prison when sentenced Jan. 22.

Police said that on Friday, the Special Investigations Unit received information that one of the teenagers involved in the case had been threatened. There is a no contact order on Watkins, prohibiting her from communicating with either student, police said.

One of the victims went to police headquarters with his mother Friday and told officers that Watkins had threatened him while he was waiting for food at a local coffee shop that day, police said. He told police that he became afraid for his safety and quickly left the coffee shop and told his mother what had happened. They immediately went to police headquarters to report it, police said.

Members of the Special Investigations Unit corroborated the allegations through video surveillance evidence at the coffee shop, according to police reports. An arrest warrant was obtained, and Watkins was taken into custody at her home in Norwalk without incident, police said.

The sexual encounters between Watkins and her student took place in her vehicle during school hours, police said. She also sent the teen sexually explicit text messages and allowed him to use her car even though he didn’t have a license, according to police reports. When the student tried to end the relationship, Watkins threatened to fail him, police said. The student eventually told a counselor about the relationship, who informed the Department of Children and Families and the Stamford Board of Education.

Police launched an investigation into the relationship, and obtained search warrants for her home, vehicle and phone. Officers attempting to pull Watkins over for a vehicle stop in Norwalk in June reported that she tried to hide her phone under her seat, police said. A search of her phone eventually discovered more than 2,000 text messages and hundreds of phone calls between Watkins and the student, police said.

Two Stamford High School administrators were also arrested in connection with the case. Principal Donna Valentine, 62, and Assistant Principal Roth Nordin, 59, were both arrested in October and charged with failing to report an allegation. Police said that the two learned about the allegations as early as December 2013 and launched an internal investigation instead of notifying the police.

The two were placed on administrative leave by the school district, and in November were granted accelerated rehabilitation, which will clear their records if they have no further problems. Stamford Superintendent Winifred Hamilton has said the two administrators will not return to Stamford High School.

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