The Tiverton police officer accused of activating his taser at a high school assembly and sporting event nearly two years ago will appear before a judge in three weeks, when his trial on disorderly conduct and simple assault charges begins in Second Division District Court in Newport.

Jacob Rapoza, who served as Tiverton’s School Resource Officer at Tiverton High School before he was suspended in December 2022, faces two counts of disorderly conduct and one count of simple assault. He also faces separate and unrelated child abuse charges filed against him last year by the Warren Police Department.

Rapoza's trial had been scheduled to begin next Wednesday, Jan. 31, but that date was canceled Thursday afternoon, Jan. 25, and re-scheduled until next month.

Rapoza first came under scrutiny after parents of some Tiverton High School students claimed he retaliated against their children just before Christmas break 2022, when they decorated hallways and his office door with graffiti.

A subsequent internal investigation led by Tiverton Police Chief Patrick Jones uncovered allegations of troubling behavior at the high school, including the unsanctioned use of his taser, sleeping on the job and other claims.