Nicole Dufault, 34, a language arts teacher was arrested for the possible sexual assault of multiple students. The following day, Dufault was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, and three counts of aggravated sexual assault. It has been reported that Dufault is accused of having oral sex and intercourse with the students both on, and off school property, sometimes in her car. According to the authorities, the victims were 15 year old male students at the Columbia High School in Maplewood, NJ.
Carolyn A. Murray reported that the assaults took place between 2013 and 2014 during the school year and also during summer school. Dufault’s bail is set at $500,000 while being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility. The authorities reported that she is allowed to have no contact with the victims. Even more shocking is the fact the Dufault is the mother of two children that she has since lost custody of.
Dufault had worked in the high school for almost a decade, and parents were outraged at this disturbing revelation. “They do background checks on the teachers, so I don’t understand.”, one parent expressed with confusion as to how something like this could happen. CBS 2 reporters visited Dufault’s house, but received no response from the inside. They did however, get comments from the neighbor, Maureen Messina, who had known Dufault for six years, and was shocked at the allegations. She said “Seemed like a, you know, just an average mom going to work,” She further added that Dufault had destroyed her own life, the victims’, and her children’s. Elizabeth Aaron, Columbia High School’s principal, wrote a letter to the parents stating that if any students were exhibiting signs of stress they should contact their guidance counselors or notify a member of her staff. Principle Aaron also addressed the whole school, suggesting that the school should focus on “teaching and learning” and try to get over the distraction. However, CBS 2 could not reach the principal for any comments related to the event.
The school students have started a page on Twitter calling for the authorities to #FreeMsDufault.
