New Jersey teacher who had sex with six underage students pleads guilty, says they initiated the move
NEW JERSEY: Nicole DuFault, a former language arts teacher plead guilty on Wednesday, January 22, after being charged with having sex with six of her students while teaching at Maplewood High. On the eve of her trial, 40-year-old DuFault admitted to having committed the crime on school grounds.
She entered a guilty plea on three accounts of criminal sexual contact. DuFault was accused of having sex with six male students aged 14 and 15 back in 2013 and 2014, according to a report by Daily Mail.
However, she blamed the act on a brain disorder. As part of the plea deal, she is expected to be handed a five-year sentence in New Jersey Prison on June 8 and will be on parole supervision for life.
After being arrested in 2014, DuFault's defense was mounted on her claim of suffering a brain injury that made her powerless to stop their advances and they were the ones who initiated the move.
It was reported that while all her contacts with the teens were separate, there was one occasion when she was filmed by one of them while she had oral sex with another.
The boys' parents filed legal action while she awaited her trial. The site added they demanded up to $1million from her and the school district for putting their sons in jeopardy.
Assistant Prosecutor Eric Plant said in a statement about the verdict: "We believe this is an appropriate resolution."
"We hope that it will deter other individuals entrusted with the welfare of children from engaging in similar acts and ensures the public's safety by requiring Ms DuFault to register as a sex offender and forfeit her employment as a teacher in this state," he added.
According to NJ, Timothy Smith, DuFault's attorney, said he would argue that the offense only carries a "presumption of probation".
"I'm thankful to the prosecutor's office for recognizing the unique complexities of this case and affording Ms Dufault this opportunity," Smith said. He added that DuFault suffered from "frontal lobe syndrome," which some experts have said is associated with the inability to control impulses.
According to the site, the former teacher is a resident of Cadwell and taught at schools in Passaic and Bergen counties before Maplewood High.
According to Daily Mail, a school spokesperson had previously termed these allegations "disturbing". The spokesman had said, "The nature of the charges is the most difficult that schools, parents, and children would ever have to discuss together." However, they did not comment on the lawsuits filed by the teens' parents.
"By law, administrators and Board of Education members are not permitted to publicly discuss personnel or individual student matters, ongoing litigation, or other issues requiring confidentiality."
"However, we can affirm we believe deeply in our mission to provide our students with a safe and healthy learning environment. We are hopeful that the process will bring closure to this painful chapter in our community's history," the spokesperson said.