Accused Maplewood Teacher Seeks To Dismiss Sex Charges Involving 6 Male Teens

Caldwell resident Nicole Dufault - a former Maplewood teacher and Bloomfield native accused of having sexual relationships with six male students – is seeking to dismiss the charges against her based on the “laziness” of state prosecutors.

A legal brief filed by Dufault’s attorney on Oct. 24 claimed that prosecutors did not instruct grand jurors on the law on Feb. 4, 2015, when they presented the facts to them to support the indictment, NJ.com reported.

According to NJ.com, the brief read:

“[Dufault’s] right to a fair and complete presentation may not be sacrificed by the State for the sake of shortening the State’s day. The State’s laziness requires the dismissal of this indictment.”

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.

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

• See related article: Prosecutor: Female Teacher Sexually Assaulted 6 Boys At School, In Her Car

In July, Dufault’s attorney announced that she was offering an unusual defense, blaming a brain condition for her actions.

• See related article: Essex County Teacher Blames Brain Condition For Alleged Sex Crimes