Nicole Dufault
UPDATE: According to a release from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, released at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 19, the number of alleged student victims with whom Nicole Dufault is accused of having sex has risen from three to five. In court Friday, Sept. 19, Dufault pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and multiple counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE — Columbia High School teacher Nicole Dufault, 35, of Caldwell was arrested Wednesday, Sept. 17, and charged with sexually assaulting three students, according to a release from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Dufault was charged with multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child after she allegedly sexually assaulted three CHS students, all of whom were 15-year-old boys. The alleged incidents occurred during the regular school year as well as during summer school in 2013 and 2014, according to the release.
Dufault, a language arts teacher employed at the school for approximately nine years, is accused of assaulting the students on school property and in her car on multiple occasions, according to the ECPO.
The South Orange-Maplewood School District has been quick to respond to the news, promising to cooperate with the investigation and to support students and faculty who are feeling affected by the allegations.
“The allegations released by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office are deeply disturbing,” SOMA Board of Education President Beth Daugherty said on Sept. 19 via email. “By law, administrators and Board of Education members are not permitted to publicly discuss personnel or individual student matters, or other issues requiring confidentiality. The board and administration will continue to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigations.”
In a letter sent to the SOMSD community Sept. 18, acting Superintendent James Memoli and CHS Principal Elizabeth Aaron urged faculty, staff and students to reach out if they need to talk about Dufault’s arrest and the allegations.
“The CHS administrative team, guidance counselors, student-assistance counselors, school social workers and teachers are actively supporting students and staff impacted by the events,” the letter read. “If your child is showing signs of stress in reaction to the events or the investigation, please reach out to his or her guidance counselor or a member of the administrative team.”
According to the letter, Aaron addressed the entire school Sept. 18 to alert them to the investigation and to ask the CHS community to remain focused on teaching and learning.
“Our primary focus remains on the health, safety and well-being of our students and staff,” the letter read. “Times of crises present opportunities to strengthen the fabric of our community, and to work together to ensure that all members feel safe, supported and united in mutual respect and thoughtful action.”
“I am impressed with the calm professionalism of the CHS and district administrative teams, especially new Principal Elizabeth Aaron, as they maintain laser-sharp focus on teaching and learning and supporting all students during these very difficult days,” Daugherty said in her email.
Dufault is currently being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark on $500,000 bail and her two minor children have been removed from her custody, according to the ECPO. She has been ordered not to have any contact with the alleged victims.
The investigation, which was conducted by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Maplewood Police Department, is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the ECPO Special Victims Unit at 973-753-1130.
These are accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.