Ex-Providence Gym Teacher Convicted After Sexually Assaulting Student

PROVIDENCE, RI — A former Providence elementary school gym teacher was convicted after he sexually assaulted a teen girl and physically assaulted three other female students, Attorney General Peter Neronha said Tuesday.

Former Kizirian Elementary School teacher James Duffy, 59, was found guilty of second-degree child molestation and four counts of simple assault.

According to prosecutors, the assaults happened between 2014 and 2017.

"Every day, parents send their children to school trusting their kids will be well-supervised and well cared for," Neronha said. "For these victims and their parents, these crimes have forever impacted their lives. I commend the courage of the victims in this case for their bravery in coming forward. I thank the Providence Police Department for their outstanding and persistent work during the investigation and prosecution of this case."

During the trial, prosecutors proved Duffy sexually assaulted one female victim and assaulted three female victims while he was working as a physical education teacher at Kizirian Elementary School in Providence. The incidents happened during the students' gym classes and lunch periods.

"The bravery of the victims involved in these cases has been invaluable, resulting in the defendant being held accountable for his crimes," Providence Police Col. Oscar Perez said. "As always, I am grateful for the men and women of the Providence Police Department, who work tirelessly to ensure that the youth in our community are not put in harm’s way by any individual, especially those who work within our schools."

Duffy is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11.

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