What Happened
Suffolk County Police arrested Bay Shore High School art teacher John Kennedy, 470A Moriches Road, St. James, on Thursday morning after an 18-year-old former student reported he had followed her from her home all the way to Selden, according to a Suffolk County Police Department press release. The woman arrived safely at her destination in Selden before contacting police. A 911 call was placed at approximately 10:40 a.m.
The former student told police Kennedy had previously had sexual affairs with her during the time she was his student at Bay Shore High School. She recognized him following her Thursday morning and reported the pursuit. Police identified Kennedy’s home address and moved to arrest him there.
Kennedy was taken into custody at 470A Moriches Road in St. James at 4:10 p.m., roughly five and a half hours after the initial 911 call, per the Suffolk County Police Department press release.
Location & Road Context
Bay Shore High School sits in Bay Shore, a hamlet in the Town of Islip along the South Shore of Suffolk County. The stalking route ran from the victim’s home — location not specified by police — through to Selden, a hamlet in the Town of Brookhaven roughly 20 miles northeast of Bay Shore. Kennedy’s home on Moriches Road in St. James lies in the Town of Smithtown, between the two points.
Suffolk County’s local incident database contains 906 recorded accidents, though this arrest involves no vehicle collision.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The arrest was confirmed by the Suffolk County Police Department on September 3, 2026. The specific charge level — New York Penal Law § 120.45 (stalking in the fourth degree) through § 120.60 (stalking in the first degree) — has not been detailed in the press release; the department confirmed only that Kennedy was arrested for stalking. Arraignment date and bail conditions had not been disclosed as of the time of the press release.
The prior sexual relationship between Kennedy and the victim, described by police as occurring while she was his student, may draw scrutiny under New York Education Law § 3020-a, which governs teacher misconduct, as well as potential referral to the New York State Education Department. No additional charges beyond stalking had been confirmed as of the press release.
Broader Impact
New York stalking charges carry a range of penalties. Stalking in the fourth degree, a class B misdemeanor, carries up to 90 days in jail. Stalking in the second degree, a class E felony triggered when the target is under 14 or when the conduct involves a prior sex offense, carries up to four years in state prison. The applicable charge tier for Kennedy had not been confirmed by police as of Thursday afternoon.