Groton — A 19-year-old New London man was charged Wednesday in the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl at Ella T. Grasso Technical High School.

Jose Contreras-Torres of 187 Huntington St. Apt 1, New London, was charged with second-degree sexual assault after an investigation by state police and Groton Town police.

The alleged incident occurred in January in a bathroom of the auto body shop at the school, where Contreras-Torres, who was then 18, and the female were students. Other students witnessed the pair going into the bathroom, according to the arrest report, and the incident was discussed on social media.

School administrators contacted the Department of Children and Families in February after the female student told the school psychologist about the incident. Administrators had been investigating after she reported she was being bullied in the school’s cafeteria and on social media. DCF then referred the incident to state police.

A person can be charged with second-degree sexual assault if they are accused of having sexual intercourse with someone that is 13 years old or older but under 16 years old, and the accused is more than three years older than the victim. In such cases, it is a Class B felony and carries a minimum sentence of 9 months imprisonment.

Contreras-Torres was released on a $10,000 nonsurety bond and was scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 24.