Ex-Peabody Teacher Given More Time In Sex Abuse Lawsuit

PEABODY, MA — A federal judge granted an extension Friday to one of the two former Peabody Veterans Memorial High School educators named in a lawsuit to respond to the complaint filed by a former student.

David Montgomery, who lives in California, now has until Feb. 14 to respond to the student's complaint that alleges he was given drugs and alcohol and sexually abused by Lynette Occhipinti, a former educational assistant at the school, starting when he was a freshman at the school in 1999. The lawsuit also names as defendants Occhipinti, the city of Peabody and 10 school staff members whose names the man does not remember. The man is identified as John Doe in court documents.

City and school officials declined comment when the lawsuit was filed in November. Occhipinti and Montgomery have not responded to requests for comment. The city has yet to respond to the complaint, but a filing suggests school officials were notified about the accusations as early as last February.

Most of the complaint centers on Doe's allegations that he was sexually abused by Occhipintii, and that the former special education teacher gave him drugs. "Occhipinti, an educator, deprived JOHN of an education, plied him with drugs and alcohol so she could sexually abuse him, and caused the addiction that has nearly killed him," the complaint said.

But Doe's complaint also claims Occhipinti was having an affair with Montgomery, who was head of the school's special education department. She would invite Doe, Montgomery and other students to her home when her now deceased husband, Robert Occhipinti, was out of town. Doe said Montgomery used cocaine and discussed some of his female students with kids that attended the gatherings at Occhipinti's home.

Previously on Patch: Ex-Peabody Teacher Gave Drugs To, Had Sex With Student: Lawsuit