A former veteran Southington Local Schools teacher and coach is being sent to prison after being convicted of four counts of sexual battery and one count of compelling prostitution.

Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Ronald Rice handed down an eight-year sentence to  Craig Lefkowitz, 51, during a hearing on Thursday.

Lefkowitz was arrested in April after Trumbull County Sheriff Paul Monroe told 21 News that they received a complaint about inappropriate sexual activity with a 15-year-old student from 15 years ago. 

In his sentencing notes, Judge Rice noted that Lefkowicz served alcohol to underage students and allowed them to have parties at his home, developing a "big brother" relationship with a minor male student so he could manipulate himm

The judge said Lefkowitz showed pornography to a student to convince the victim to have sex with him, including paying the student for sex.

Lefkowitz also took nude photos of the student, keeping them in a notebook along with samples of the student's pubic hair.

Judge Rice notes that Lefkowitz got the student drunk in a hotel to have sex with the boy, and bribed the victim to keep silent about the abuse.

The judge noted that the victim struggles with emotional distress, leading to drug addiction and a broken marriage

"You sullied the most sacred trust a teacher can have. You groomed and manipulated a naive young male student to get what you wanted," wrote Judge Rice. "You used your position as a teacher and athletic director, like many other predators, to troll, search and violate your victim. You are a textbook sexually deviate pedophilic predator in every way."

Authorities say the abuse occurred during the course of the victim's 9th grade through senior year at the district. 

Lefkowitz, who had been licensed to teach since 1996, was employed by the Southington Local Schools for 21 years.

According to his school web page, Lefkowitz was the Athletic Director, computer teacher, Junior High Volleyball coach, and Spirit Club Advisor.

The web page also states that Lefkowitz was in charge of school trips to Germany and Italy planned for June.

Lefkowitz has also been declared a sex offender.