A former Portland ed tech who was convicted of abusing a high-needs student has died in prison.

Benjamin Conroy, an education technician who worked at Ocean Avenue Elementary School in Portland, made his first appearance in front of Cumberland County Superior Court Justice MaryGay Kennedy via Zoom on Oct. 15, 2021. Image from court video

Benjamin Conroy, 35, died Monday at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons. A spokesperson declined to discuss how Conroy died and the Burlington County medical examiner’s office declined to share any information Thursday.

Conroy pleaded guilty to one count of sexually exploiting a child in 2022. He was sentenced to 22 years, followed by 15 years of probation.

His projected release date was July 7, 2040, according to the Bureau of Prisons.

Conroy worked with Portland Public Schools’ Beach program for high-needs students with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders that require one-on-one attention. He was arrested in October 2021 after a man told police Conroy had him sent “disturbing images” of a man sexually abusing a child.

Police later confirmed the video was of Conroy abusing a 7-year-old student. A victim advocate for the child’s family said their daughter was scared of physical touch after the incident and had to spend a year at home.

Conroy’s attorney and his family have told U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen that they felt his mental health played a role in what happened.

Conroy was initially diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2019. A year earlier he was in a car crash that left him with a concussion and was coming out of an eight-year engagement, according to court records. A therapist who evaluated Conroy after his arrest said he was “likely symptomatic” at the time of his offense.