MPD End Investigation of Middletown Teacher, Release Details

The Middletown Police Department have concluded their investigation into a potential relationship between 39-year-old  Patrick Aylward, a teacher at Middletown High School, and a 17-year-old female student.

Police were investigating a possible third-degree sexual assault with the student after she allegedly told Fall River police she was having an intimate relationship with the teacher. 

Middletown police said after their investigation, they have not found sufficient evidence to charge the teacher. The state's legal age of consent is 16, said police.  

Portsmouth police charged Aylward with domestic simple assault after he allegedly head-butted the student at Founder's Brook Motel in Portsmouth on Feb. 17, 2013. Motel staff told Patch Aylward had rented a room at the motel many times since last fall. 

On March 4, the female student allegedly smashed a window and entered Aylward's house in Fall River. Police said Aylward's wife used pepper spray on the girl. 

Police said Aylward initially denied knowing the girl but later said she was a student at Middletown High School. 

The girl told police she had been having an intimate relationship with Aylward for the past two years and had sex with the teacher many times in Middletown and Portsmouth. She told police that Aylward pays for her cell phone.

Last July, Middletown police said they responded to a domestic argument between Aylward and the student at the Comfort Inn Motel. Aylward reportedly told police he was a mentor-figure for the girl.

The relationship is still under investigation by the Middletown School Department.  He remains on paid leave, according to Middletown Superintendent Rosemarie Kraeger.