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	Charter School Teacher Indicted on Sex Charge By Gary V. Murray Telegram & Gazette May 14, 2008 http://telegram.com/article/20080514/FRONTPAGENEWS/247433358 WORCESTER — A Seven Hills Charter Public School music teacher pleaded not guilty today to charges of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy. Tyrone D. Forbes, 49, of 84 Chatham St., Apt. 2, was arraigned in Worcester Superior Court on three counts of unnatural statutory rape of a child involving a 15-year-old boy, who was not a student at the school. Mr. Forbes was recently indicted by a grand jury. He was put on leave at the charter school soon after the arrest. School officials said today his status remains unchanged. Mr. Forbes was arrested during the early-morning hours of April 3, after he and the boy were found together in the teacher's pickup truck in the parking lot of Bennett Field on Main Street. Following interviews with Mr. Forbes and the teenager, the teacher, who has since been banned from school grounds, was charged with seven counts of statutory rape. Prosecutors said Mr. Forbes, who was also an elder at Mount Sinai Church of God in Christ on Wellington Street, admitted to investigators that he had been involved in a five-month sexual relationship with the 15-year-old. Assistant District Attorney Joseph J. Reilly III said at the time of Mr. Forbes' April 3 arraignment in Central District Court that the suspect had acted as a "mentor" for the boy, who attended the same church. He said church members acquired information leading them to question Mr. Forbes' relationship with the youth and the teenager was advised to have no further contact with the teacher. A Worcester County grand jury handed up indictments April 25 charging Mr. Forbes with three counts of unnatural statutory rape, crimes that allegedly occurred between Nov. 1 and March 31. The return of the indictments moved the case to Worcester Superior Court, where Mr. Forbes was arraigned anew today. At Mr. Reilly's request, Judge Peter W. Agnes Jr. set Mr. Forbes' bail at $5,000 cash, the same amount set last month in Central District Court. In the event he posts bail, Mr. Forbes is to have no contact with the alleged victim or members of his immediate family. The judge also ordered that Mr. Forbes remain under GPS monitoring if released from custody. The bail was set without prejudice, which will enable Mr. Forbes' appointed lawyer, Michael S. Hussey, to seek a bail reduction at a later date. Judge Agnes allowed Mr. Hussey's motion for $1,500 from the budget of the state Committee for Public counsel Services to hire a forensic psychologist. In his affidavit in support of the request, Mr. Hussey said Mr. Forbes' mental state at the time of the alleged sexual acts could become a critical issue at trial. Judge Agnes continued Mr. Forbes' case to June 6. Contact: gmurray@telegram.com
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