Ex-teacher pleads not guilty to sex assault at muster

by: Alex Gecan

A former Bloomfield middle school teacher has pleaded not guilty to an October sexual assault at a fife-and-drum muster.

Dale Kukucka, 35, of Andover entered not-guilty pleas Tuesday in Middlesex Superior Court to four felonies and a misdemeanor stemming from an alleged assault and attempted rape at an East Haddam bonfire celebration last year. State police arrested Kukucka a little over a year after he allegedly made unwanted advances on another woman, landing him in an accelerated rehabilitation program.

Kukucka was two months away from his final AR hearing at the time of the alleged assault.

According to court documents, a woman went to use a restroom in Grange Hall during the Moodus Fife and Drum Muster when a male assailant jumped her from behind and choked her, then and she lost consciousness. The woman told troopers that when she came to in the bathroom, she was bleeding and had no memory of anything after being choked.

Witnesses told troopers they had discovered Kukucka atop the victim and he fled.

Kukucka denied any knowledge of unusual goings-on during the muster.

Kukucka is represented by the public defender’s office. He remains in custody on a $500,000 bond and will be back in court on April 29.

In the summer of 2012, a female employee of the Banner Lodge Golf Course said that Kukucka had kissed and groped her against her will.

Source: middletownpress