Judge Reduces Sex Offense Charges For Essex County Teacher Nicole Dufault

Nicole Dufault – the Essex County teacher accused of having sexual relationships with six male students – is facing reduced charges courtesy of a Superior Court judge.

Prosecutors are charging that Dufault - a Bloomfield native and Caldwell resident who was teaching at Columbia High School in Maplewood - engaged in sexual activity with six boys on multiple occasions between 2013 and 2014, some of which allegedly occurred on school property and in her car.

• See related article: Teacher Charged With Sexually Assaulting Students

NJ.com reported that on Monday, Superior Court Judge Michael L. Ravin said he had denied a defense motion to dismiss the child endangerment charges against Nicole Dufault, but he agreed to downgrade some of the charges from second- to third-degree crimes.

Ravin did not specify the reasons for his ruling during the hearing.

Dufault, a mother of two, is facing 40 counts of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

She pleaded not guilty to all charges in April.

• See related article: Maplewood Teacher Pleads Not Guilty to Sexual Assault