John Kennedy arrested for allegedly stalking former student

John Kennedy, a 53-year-old former art teacher at Bay Shore High School, has been arrested and charged with misdemeanor stalking after allegedly following an 18-year-old former student. According to Suffolk County Police, the victim called 911 after spotting Kennedy trailing her from her home to a location in Selden. The criminal complaint alleges Kennedy had previously driven by the teen's home multiple times and followed her to her place of education.

Kennedy pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in Suffolk County First District Court. His attorney, Karl Seman, disputed the allegations, stating his client was parked on a public street and left after being told the student did not wish to speak with him. A temporary order of protection has been issued, and Kennedy is scheduled to return to court on September 16.

The arrest follows a lawsuit filed against the Bay Shore School District by an anonymous former student. The lawsuit alleges the district failed to protect the student from Kennedy, whom the suit describes as a “serial sexual predator” who engaged in sexual abuse within his classroom. While a previous police probe into allegations of a sexual relationship between Kennedy and the student—who was 17 at the time—was closed due to a lack of evidence of criminal conduct, legal representatives argue the relationship was inherently exploitative due to the power imbalance.