Teacher-Pastor Charged With Statutory Rape

BOSTON -- Worcester police said they have arrested and charged an elementary school teacher and pastor at a local church with statutory rape. Police said he had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old boy.

Authorities said they arrested Tyrone Forbes, 49, of 84 Chatham St., in Worcester, after a police officer on routine patrol spotted a pickup truck parked in the closed Bennett Field parking lot on Main Street about 1:30 a.m. Thursday.

The officer followed the truck and observed an older man with a teenage boy and stopped to question why they were at the field in the early-morning hours. During the interview, it was determined that the boy was 15 years old and had allegedly been involved in a sexual relationship with Forbes since late last year.

Forbes is an elementary school music teacher at the 7 Hills Charter School in Worcester, officials said. He is also a pastor at the Mount Sinia Church of God in Christ in Worcester, police said.

The teenager is not a student at the school, police said, but Forbes is a friend of the child's family.

Forbes was charged with seven counts of child rape and was scheduled for arraignment Thursday in Worcester Central District Court. He was held on $5,000 bail and officials said if he is released he will be required to wear a GPS tracker to ensure he does not contact the victim.