ACCUSED CHS TEACHER PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN ALLEGED STUDENT SEX SCANDAL

Columbia High School teacher Nicole Dufault pleaded not guilty today to 40 counts of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of children related to allegations she had sex with six under-aged students, according to NJ.com.

Dufault, 35, was arrested in September on charges related to the alleged actions that police claim occurred in 2013 and 2014.

In court today before Judge Michael Ravin, she made the plea. She has been offered a 15-year plea deal, but has not yet accepted the proposal.

Dufault, a nine-year veteran of the district, remains free on $500,000 bail.