Misstep: Race-walking teacher busted on sex assault charges

Theron Kissinger, a 44-year-old teacher in Staples, Conn., allegedly sexually assault a young girl he was tutoring, police said.

A fast-walking Connecticut teacher allegedly sexually assaulted a young girl he was tutoring, authorities said.

Theron Kissinger, a 44-year-old high school teacher and nationally recognized race walker, is accused of abusing the girl during an off-campus study session, the Stamford Advocate reported.

Kissinger of Southbury taught math at Staples High School until he was arrested Thursday on a charge of second-degree sexual assault.

The school immediately put him on leave, and administrators have notified parents in a statement.

“We are shocked and disappointed by these allegations,” the school said. “We will continue to work closely with the Westport PD, as we have throughout the past few days, to determine all the facts related to this matter and to take appropriate action based on that determination.”

Kissinger will keep his job until the facts are known, school leaders said.

The busted instructor is a regular competitor in national race-walking events.

He was featured prominently in a 2008 ESPN story on the sport, which noted the numbers wiz liked to suck on lollipops and compute equations while he sped along.

“I enter a lot of marathons and I don’t run, I walk, and I beat about a third of the field,” Kissinger boasted to ESPN. “I’ll hear people saying, ‘Hey, that guy is walking and he’s passing me.’”

Kissinger was held on $50,000 bond following his arrest, the Advocate reported. He’s scheduled for a Jan. 23 court appearance.

Source: nydailynews