Former Wesleyan Coach Charged With Improper Relationship With Student

A social studies teacher at has been arrested and charged with four counts of fourth-degree sexual assault for an alleged improper relationship with at least one female student, according to Enfield police.

Tyler Wells turned himself in to Enfield police this morning on a warrant for his arrest and was held on a $1,000 bond, according to Enfield Police Chief Carl Sferrazza.

Later in the day Wells was released on a $10,000 non-surety bond in Enfield Superior Court. Judge Michael Dannehy issued a protective order, prohibiting Wells from have any contact with the female student or being within 100 yards of her.

Wells, a social studies teacher at Fermi for the past three years, has been on paid administrative leave since June 15 when the allegations of an improper relationship with at least one female student arose.

He was a 2011 part-time football running back coach at Wesleyan University in Middletown. David Pesci, Wesleyan's director of media relations and public relations called Wells a temporary employee.

"He hasn't been employed here since February," Pesci said.

As recently as June 1, Wells took part in a Wesleyan Men's Basketball Alumni golf outing at Quarry Ridge Golf Course in Portland.

On June 26, Wells' name and bio were listed under the football coaching staff for 2011. It has since been removed. The Wesleyan Athletics website had said, "Wells was a new face among the Wesleyan part-time coaching staff for 2010 and rejoins the squad in 2011."

He began work toward a master of arts in liberal studies at Wesleyan in 2007, his bio said, but never completed his degree because he took the teaching job at Fermi High School three years ago.

Wells is pictured on the Wesleyan Athletics website as part of the 2011 football roster.

When reached Wednesday morning, Enfield Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Schumann declined to comment on Wells’ arrest, referring all questions to the and saying that “it is a police matter.”