Steven Kalble, 66, head of the culinary program at the Newport Area Career and Technical Center, was released on bail after his arraignment in District Court.

NEWPORT — The culinary arts instructor at the Newport Area Career and Technical Center who was named Newport Teacher of the Year less than three weeks ago spent Monday night in jail on a charge of second-degree sexual assault.

Steven Kalble, 66, of 141 Bliss Road, entered no plea to the charge in District Court on Tuesday. He “did engage in unwanted sexual contact with a 16-year-old girl by using force, the element of surprise and coercion,” according to the court record.

The girl was one of his students in the culinary arts program at NACTC on the Rogers High School campus, according to the police record.

Judge Colleen Hastings set bail at $50,000 with surety, meaning a $5,000 cash payment was required for his release and which took place. She issued him a no-contact order with the victim and a no-contact order with any child or young person under the age of 18.

Hastings ordered the search warrant and affidavit sealed because the case involves a minor. Police said the case remains under investigation.

Kalble was put on administrative leave, according to a written statement from Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain.

“The school department will follow all appropriate procedures in investigating and reviewing the situation,” Jermain wrote.

Kalble was sending inappropriate text messages to the girl in March and, in one text, he said “I love you,” according to the police report. He told the investigating police officer, Brett Misturado, who is a full-time school resource officer at Rogers, the message was taken out of context, police said.

However, he had sent the girl a series of email messages and the girl’s parents were asked to come to the police station with the girl, police said.

During the following interview with Misturado and Detective Patrick Walsh, the girl appeared to be holding back and police asked the parents if they could talk to their daughter alone, police said.

Police Lt. Michael Naylor called in Day One advocate Lauren Woitowicz, who assists the police with victims, especially in cases of sexual assault and domestic abuse, said Lt. Frank Rosa.

The girl gave Naylor, Walsh and Woitowicz a detailed statement, and police obtained an arrest warrant and a search warrant for his home, cellphone and all computer devices, police said.

He was arrested at his home and held overnight at the police station for his arraignment. Because it is a felony, the matter was referred to the state Attorney General’s office for possible prosecution in Superior Court.

At the top of the School Committee's agenda for Tuesday night’s meeting was an item to recognize Kalble as the Teacher of the Year for the 2019-2020 school year, but Chairman Raymond Gomes just said “the person is not here” and the committee quickly moved to French Contest winners.

The Rhode Island Hospitality Association named Kalble the state’s 2016 Culinary Arts Teacher of the Year. He also was one of 10 instructors from around the country to be named a ProStart National Educator of Excellence by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation in 2017.

Kalble was an instructor in the pastry department at Johnson & Wales University in Providence for 17 years before coming to NACTC. His predecessor as culinary arts instructor, Bill Mackin, called him and suggested he apply for the NACTC position, which he has held for the past 11 years.

Raised in Poughkeepsie, New York, Kalble moved to Newport in 1976, when he was a student at Johnson & Wales University. He graduated in 1978.

Kalble initially worked as a college student at the former Cliff Walk Manor, now The Chanler, and has cooked since then at several local restaurants, including the Castle Hill Inn.

sflynn@newportri.com