columbia-high-school

Columbia High School in Maplewood. (Photo by Bil Wichert | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

(Bill Wichert/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Nicole Dufault

NEWARK — The case against a Maplewood teacher accused of sexually assaulting five male students includes a video of her performing oral sex on one of the victims, an assistant prosecutor said in court today.

In a search of Nicole Dufault’s Caldwell apartment, authorities also found a piece of clothing that she was seen wearing in that video, the assistant prosecutor said.

Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Gina Iosim unveiled those details today during a hearing on a defense motion to reduce Dufault’s $500,000 bail on the grounds that she has no criminal history and she has ties to the community.

But Superior Court Judge Michael L. Ravin denied the motion for a bail reduction, saying the $500,000 bail was not unreasonable in light of the "severity of the charges and the numerous charges."

The judge also indicated the apparent likelihood of conviction was “high,” in part because of the alleged video. Dufault remains in custody at the Essex County jail.

Outside the courtroom after the hearing, Iosim declined to say who allegedly filmed the video, but said the video features Dufault performing oral sex on one of the victims while another victim is present.

After the hearing, Dufault’s attorney, Timothy Smith, said he hadn’t seen the video. “It’s difficult for me to comment without seeing the video,” Smith said.

But Smith added that “sometimes a video…doesn’t tell the entire story,” and suggested that Dufault could be the victim.

“If the video depicts certain things happening…that doesn’t mean that my client’s not innocent,” said Smith, adding that “for example, she could be the victim.”

“People are victimized by juveniles all the time,” Smith said.

Dufault, 35, of Caldwell, is accused of sexually assaulting the Columbia High School students on multiple occasions between 2013 and 2014. She is facing multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

The charges relate to roughly 12 separate sexual interactions, Iosim said. The alleged victims were all 15 years old at the time of the incidents, Iosim said.

Authorities allege the sex acts occurred on school property and in her car. Dufault has been a language arts teacher at the high school for about nine years, prosecutors said.

Wearing a prison jumpsuit and with her dark hair in a ponytail, Dufault spoke minimally during today’s court appearance. At the start, Ravin asked her “how are you, today?,” and Dufault responded, “I’m well. Thank you.”

In arguing for her bail to be reduced to $150,000, Smith told Ravin how Dufault has had “no prior involvement with the criminal justice system whatsoever.” Dufault has not even received a traffic ticket, Smith said.

A Bloomfield native, Dufault attended Bloomfield High School and Caldwell College, Smith said. Dufault is a single mother of two sons, ages 3 and 5, Smith said.

“She’s a model mother and a model citizen,” Smith told the judge. “She’s truly an exceptional individual.”

But Iosim told Ravin that two prior complaints had been made against Dufault over the last year at Columbia High School due to her “lack of professionalism and her conduct.”

In one complaint, Dufault was accused of having “inappropriate sexual conversations in the classroom,” Iosim said.

Dufault also allegedly lied about her work experience on the resume she submitted to be employed at Columbia High School, Iosim said. Dufault did not work for one of the employers listed on that resume, she said.

In regard to the sexual assault charges, the state has statements from the five victims that detail their relationships with Dufault, including the sex acts as well as the interactions leading up to that sexual activity, Iosim said. Iosim referred to those interactions as “grooming behavior.”

Referring to other witness statements, Iosim said “some students witnessed her in sexual acts with others.”

The bail hearing also dealt with Dufault’s potential risk of flight and her medical history.

Smith said Dufault is a “very low risk” of flight, arguing that she did not flee when she learned criminal charges would be filed against her. “She stayed by to defend against these charges,” he said.

But Iosim said that when Dufault was asked to leave the school, a witness recalled her saying, “I wish I could pack up my kids and leave.”

Saying Dufault suffers from “horrific medical conditions,” Smith said she has a shunt in her brain due to spinal fluid that accumulated there. The attorney claimed the county jail does not have the resources to treat that condition.

Iosim argued that many inmates at the county jail suffer from various medical conditions. Ravin said there was “nothing in front of me that the jail cannot address” Dufault’s medical issues.

Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.