Prosecutors: Head of Raleigh school allowed teacher, later convicted of child sex crimes, to spend alone time with students

https://www.wral.com/prosecutors-head-of-raleigh-school-allowed-male-teacher-later-convicted-of-child-sex-crimes-to-spend-alone-time-with-fe/20392225

Nancy Errichetti, the head mistress of the Montessori School of Raleigh, rejected a plea deal from North Carolina last year for her role in a sex abuse scandal involving young girls and claims she took allegations of sexual misconduct at her school seriously.

Now, she faces a jury that will decide if she turned a blind eye and allowed the sexual abuse of a female student to continue under her supervision.

Errichetti is charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and aiding and abetting taking indecent liberties with a child.

The case centers around if Errichetti knew about relationship between Nicholas Conlon Smith, a middle school teacher at the school, and a 14-year-old girl who was also a student at the school. Prosecutors say because she ignored this case of sexual abuse, more than a decade ago, another teenage girl was abused at the school by Smith.

Nicholas Smith is already serving 17 years in state prison after being convicted on numerous sex crimes related to abusing the two students at the school.

The two abuse victims are also sisters, according to the prosecution.

The biggest question: did Errichetti know enough about the sexual abuse allegations to stop it?

State prosecutor Melanie Shekita claims that Errichetti allowed Nicholas Smith to be alone with young girls on school trips.

Smith was in the girl's room late at night, asking them inappropriate questions and playing inappropriate games, according to Shekita.

"Parents trust their children will be safe when dropped off at school," Shekita said. "They were not safe."

Errichetti had the authority to fire, demote or punish Smith for his alleged actions with the teenage girl, but did not, the prosecution claims. Instead he advanced in his career, Shekita said Wednesday afternoon during opening statements.

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>Raleigh, North Carolina