Maplewood Teacher, Caldwell Resident Charged With Sexually Assaulting 3 Students

A teacher at Columbia High School in Maplewood was arrested yesterday and charged with sexually assaulting three students.

Nicole Dufault, 34, of Caldwell, was arrested last night at her home. She was charged yesterday with multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Maplewood Police Chief Robert J. Cimino made the announcement to the press this morning.

All of the victims were 15-year-old boys attending Columbia High School. The incidents occurred during the regular school year and also during summer school in 2013 and 2014. Dufault is currently being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark on $500,000 bail. She has been ordered to have no contact with any of the victims. Dufault has two minor children who have been removed from her custody.

A language arts teacher who has been employed at the school for approximately 9 years, Dufault is accused of having oral sex and vaginal intercourse with the students on school property and in her car on multiple occasions.

The investigation, which is active and ongoing, was conducted by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Maplewood Police Department. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit at 973-753-1130.

Counseling and other assistance will be available to students through the South Orange/Maplewood School system.
These are accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they enter a guilty plea or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Information courtesy of Katherine B. Carter, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office