A Concord, N.H., high school teacher who allegedly sexually assaulted a girl in Newton, Mass., and New Hampshire in 2015 and 2016 tried to kill himself last week when he learned authorities had launched a criminal investigation, according to police and court records.
The suspect, Primo H. “Howie” Leung, 36, was arraigned in a Concord, N.H., courtroom Thursday as a fugitive from justice in Massachusetts. No plea was entered and a bail order of preventative detention was issued, said Carole Alfano, a spokeswoman for the New Hampshire court system.
He is due to return to court on May 2 for a status hearing.
He’s charged in Newton, Mass., District Court with two counts of aggravated rape of a child, one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, and one count of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over, legal filings show.
“Massachusetts authorities have indicated that they will extradite Leung,” a Concord, N.H., police affidavit said.
It wasn’t known whether Leung had hired a lawyer.
Concord, N.H., police said they began investigating Leung, a Concord High School teacher, in February. The probe was launched after the New Hampshire Department of Education told police that Leung “was allegedly having inappropriate contacts with female students,” Concord police said in a statement.
The case eventually led investigators to Newton, Mass.
“Subsequently, police investigators gathered evidence which established that Mr. Leung had allegedly engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a minor who was known to him” the statement said. “The investigation revealed that the alleged sexual relationship occurred in Concord, NH and in Newton, MA. Investigators subsequently learned that Mr. Leung allegedly engaged in a sexual relationship with the minor in 2015 and 2016 while the victim lived in Concord, N.H. and while the defendant was working at a summer camp at Fessenden School in Newton.”
Fessenden, a private boys’ boarding and day school serving grades pre-K through nine in Newton, released a brief statement Thursday through a spokesman.
“The school was notified Wednesday afternoon of the allegations concerning Mr. Leung, and is cooperating fully with investigators,” the Fessenden statement said. “We have confirmed that an updated background check of Mr. Leung was conducted last summer. We have no further information to share at this time.”
A Fessenden spokesman confirmed in a follow-up statement that Leung “has been terminated” by the school.
In addition to the charges pending in Massachusetts, Leung remains under investigation in the Granite State, according to Concord, N.H., police. Leung lives in Concord, N.H.
“Concord Police are continuing with the investigation and will continue working closely with Massachusetts authorities to determine the appropriate timing of any additional charges related to this State,” Concord police said. “Concord Police recently executed search warrants at Concord High School and at Mr. Leung’s residence in furtherance of the investigation, which is still active at this time.”
A Concord police affidavit said Leung, of Concord, N.H., was told of the investigation on March 27. The following morning, Concord police learned Leung had attempted suicide.
Leung was taken to Concord Hospital, where he remained Wednesday, when local police took him into custody as a fugitive from justice in Massachusetts, legal filings show.
Concord, N.H., schools Superintendent Terri Forsten addressed the troubling case Thursday in a letter to the school district community.
“Once Concord Schools learned the results of the police findings, we immediately placed this teacher on paid leave pending the conclusion of their investigation,” Forsten wrote. “When Concord Schools became aware of alleged inappropriate contacts between the teacher and a female student, we immediately launched an extensive and thorough investigation. We also contacted the New Hampshire Department of Education with our findings.”
Forsten also condemned Leung’s alleged behavior.
“These allegations are despicable and sickening and are certainly not representative of the culture or the community that we work so hard to surround our students with here in the Concord School District,” Forsten wrote. “It is important to know that we provide educational programming and training for all employees regarding appropriate and acceptable behavior, including having our staff review relevant policies.”
Forsten said counselors will be available to help students and families who need assistance “coping with this revelation.”
She added, “Our greatest responsibility is and always will be, the safety, security, and well-being of our students. We hold every member of our community to the highest professional and personal standards, and any activities that compromise the core values of the Concord School District will not be tolerated.”
On Leung’s personal Facebook page, he posted a brief message last June to graduating Concord High School seniors.
“Yay seniors!” he wrote. “Enjoy prom!!! Hard to believe that so many of the kiddos I have met and worked with since 6th grade are all now graduating in a couple of days!!!!”
Danny McDonald of Globe staff contributed to this report. Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @TAGlobe.