WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A former Pine Cobble School teacher has pleaded not guilty to repeated aggravated sexual assault of a student. 

 

According to the Bennington (Vt.) Banner, Peter Hirzel, 60, of Pownal, Vt., was arraigned in Vermont District in Bennington on Wednesday. The middle school student was allegedly assaulted repeatedly over a 10-month period at the suspect's home.

 

Hirzel had been teaching middle school math since 2004, first in California and then at Pine Cobble starting in 2018, according to his LinkedIn profile. He posted that at Pine Cobble, he was "also seeing to the day-to-day academic lives of students as the eighth grade homeroom teacher and an advisor."

 

The victim's mother reported that she saw Hirzel as a positive support during what was a tough a year for her child and that she allowed the victim to go to Hirzel's home, according to the police report.

 

The school said his employment at Pine Cobble ended in mid-March 2021, though not why, and his current status on LinkedIn is "somewhat retired" and but open to "the right job."

 

"We are devastated by this news and our hearts are broken for the victim," said Head of School Sue Wells on Thursday. "However, due to the ongoing criminal case, Pine Cobble is referring all questions to law enforcement officials."

 

She did say the school requires background checks and fingerprinting for all employees. 

 

Hirzel is being held without bail at the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in Rutland, Vt., pending a weight of evidence hearing. The Banner reports he is facing a minimum sentence of 25 years, a maximum of life imprisonment and a possible $50,000 fine if convicted.