Tyler Wells Denied Accelerated Rehabilitation, Will Face Jury Trial on Sexual Assault Charges

By Tim Jensen

ENFIELD -- Former Fermi High School social studies teacher Tyler Wells is facing a jury trial, after a judge denied his request for accelerated rehabilitation following a hearing last month. 

Wells, 30, was arrested July 26, 2012 and charged with four counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, after an investigation that began when a Fermi teacher contacted Enfield police in mid-June about an alleged improper relationship with a female student. 

An affidavit supporting Wells' arrest said the relationship began with text messaging between the student and him, which at times included Wells complimenting the student's body, and allegedly evolved into several physical encounters which included fondling of the student's breast and buttocks. 

School officials had placed Wells on paid administrative leave as the investigation proceeded. He subsequently resigned his position in a letter to Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Schumann on Aug. 7, 2012, citing "the timing is right for me to pursue a new career path in the business world, with the ultimate goal of owning my own business. This has always been a dream of mine, and a unique opportunity has recently presented itself, which I simply cannot pass up." 

Wells pleaded not guilty to the charges on Aug. 22, 2012, and his case has been continued on more than a half-dozen occasions. 

Stephen F. McEleney, Wells' attorney, filed a motion for accelerated rehabilitation, and a hearing was held on April 18 in Enfield Superior Court. The victim and her mother addressed the court during the proceedings, according to documents obtained from the court clerk. 

Following the hearing, Judge Howard Scheinblum denied the A.R. motion, as the "case (was) deemed too serious," the documents state. 

Wells is scheduled for his next court appearance on June 18.

He is a 2002 Avon Old Farms School graduate and was employed at the Avon private school at one time.