PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- The former student who has accused a Providence teacher of rape told police last week the sexual assault went on for years, Target 12 has learned. The alleged victim walked into the Providence Public Safety Complex last Thursday to file a report against her former middle school teacher, according to an incident report recently made public. Police said the victim "was tearful and shaking" while alleging she had been sexually assaulted by the teacher beginning when she was 15 years old. The teacher was identified as Joseph Gannon, 50, of Warwick. He was arrested on Friday at Nathanael Greene Middle School and charged with one count of first-degree sexual assault and one count of producing or transferring child pornography. No plea was entered at his arraignment on Monday, as is typical with felony charges in district court. A judge ordered Gannon held without bail. According to the report, the victim said after graduating middle school, she stayed in contact with Gannon by email and on social media. The victim said Gannon initiated the messages. The victim told police Gannon invited her to his house in August 2019. Portions of the report explaining what the victim detailed to police were redacted. The victim alleged she met repeatedly with Gannon beginning at 15 years old until she was 18. The former student told police she initially met with Gannon once a month, but that eventually progressed to twice per week. The report stated that Gannon would take the victim to different public areas, like "parks, hotels and behind buildings," in addition to a hotel in Massachusetts. The victim also told police that anytime she would meet Gannon he would give her gifts that were sexual in nature, such as adult toys and lingerie. Gannon also allegedly pressured the victim not to visit the hospital or tell her friends about the encounters, which included him taking pictures and videos of them engaging in sexual acts together or of just her alone, according to the report. A judge ordered no contact between Gannon and the victim. He's due back in court on Sept. 30 for a bail hearing. A search of Gannon’s name in the R.I. Department of Education’s public educator verification portal shows that Gannon is a certified general science teacher for grades 7-12 at Nathanael Green Middle School. Gannon was still listed on the school's staff directory as of Tuesday afternoon. Providence Public School District spokesperson Jay Wegimont told Target 12 last week that Gannon was placed on leave, but did not clarify if it was paid or unpaid. READ: Providence schools without internet as they deal with ‘unprecedented’ network outage According to data from the Department of Justice, a majority of child victims of sexual assault are between the ages of 12 and 17. According to the The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey's report from 2016-2017, data showed more than four of five female rape victims reported that they were first raped before age 25 and almost half were first raped as a minor. Data shows that nationwide more victims of sexual assault or rape are reporting incidents to police than ever. The Bureau of Justice Statistics’ National Crime Victimization Survey, an annual data collection that's carried out by the U.S. Census Bureau, found the percentage of rape or sexual assault victimizations reported to police increased significantly, from 21% in 2022 to 46% in 2023. Rhode Island published its first Sexual Assault Victim’s Bill of Rights last year, a document that highlights rights available to all victims of sexual assault, even if they choose not to participate in the criminal justice system or decide not to obtain a medical examination. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, there are local and national resources available: National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 RI Victims of Crime Helpline: 1-800-494-8100 Day One: 401-421-4100 RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence: 1-800-494-8100 Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center: 401-723-3057 RI Office of Victims Services: 877-744-8463 Sojourner House: 401-765-3232 Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center: 401-738-1700 Alexandra Leslie ([email protected]) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW