Brewster High School Instructor Charged With Having Sex With Student

Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports that an instructor at the Brewster High School is facing criminal charges in connection with an alleged sexual relationship with a student.

Mr. Christopher L. Vlangas, aged 41, who resides at 4 Upland Pastures Road in Sherman, Connecticut, allegedly engaged in sexual conduct with a 16-year-old female student. The charged sexual activity is alleged to have occurred in the Towns of Southeast and Patterson. The defendant faces multiple charges of statutory rape and a charge of criminal sexual act in the case.

At the time of the alleged conduct, Mr. Vlangas was a Naval Science Instructor in the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps. (NJROTC) Program at Brewster High School. According to social media content posted on the internet, he is a retired U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer.

Mr. Vlangas has been charged with four felonies in the case. He is charged in Southeast with one count of criminal sexual act and one count of rape in the third degree. He is charged in Patterson with two counts of rape in the third degree. The rape charges are based upon the facts that the defendant is over the age of 21 and the student involved is under 17 years of age. Under the law, a person under 17 years old is deemed incapable of giving lawful consent in such cases.

On October 12th, a high school staff member received information concerning the alleged sexual relationship between Mr. Vlangas and the student. School officials notified the Sheriff’s Office and an investigation was commenced. The defendant did not return to the school campus after the investigation began.

Sheriff’s investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Mr. Vlangas and he was arrested on October 30th in Danbury, Connecticut by officers of the Danbury Police Department. At the time of this News Release, Mr. Vlangas was being held in Connecticut as a fugitive from justice, to await his expected extradition to New York.

Investigators obtained judicial search warrants and executed searches of Mr. Vlangas’ office at the school, his Connecticut home and his vehicle. At this time, authorities are not disclosing whether any evidence was found in those searches.

Sheriff’s investigators Corinne Pitt and Paul Piazza led the criminal investigation, with the assistance of the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office, the Connecticut State Attorney’s Office and the Connecticut State Police. The Sheriff’s Office coordinated with the Danbury Police Department to secure the defendant’s apprehension in that city.

A telephone hotline has been established at the Sheriff’s Office and anyone with information relevant to the case is asked to call (845) 808-4377. Calls will be kept confidential.

 

 
 
 
 
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Submitted by Brewster, NY

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