CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Fate of former Montessori School of Raleigh head charged in sex-abuse case goes to jury

News & Observer - 8/8/2022

The jury has begun deliberating in the case against a former Raleigh school leader accused of aiding in the sexual abuse of a middle school student by a former teacher.

Jurors will decide if Nancy Errichetti, the former head of the Montessori School of Raleigh, knew about the abuse and if her inaction led to the abuse of another student.

Errichetti is charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a misdemeanor. She was previously charged with a felony of aiding and abetting taking indecent liberties with a child, however, a judge removed this charge on Monday. The trial began July 27.

If found guilty, Errichetti could face a two-year sentence.

The jury went into deliberations Monday afternoon after closing arguments.

Closing arguments

Prosecutors argue Errichetti knew about Nicholas Conlon Smith’s inappropriate behavior with young girls while teaching at Montessori School, but failed to take action, resulting in the abuse of another student in 2016.

Both victims of the abuse were sisters and students of the school.

Smith, 41, a former math teacher at the school, was arrested and charged in 2017 with 17 counts of statutory rape or sex offense and four counts of sex offense.

He pleaded guilty in August 2020 to 11 felony sex offenses including statutory rape, sex act with a student and the sexual exploitation of a minor, The News & Observer previously reported. He is serving 25 years and testified during the trial.

Errichetti became head of the school in 2012 and Assistant District Attorney Melanie Shekita argues that she was aware of the complaints of the inappropriate behavior in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2016.

Shekita argued that not only did Errichetti know about the abuse but even promoted Smith and let him continue taking overnight trips with students.

Shekita said Errichetti, having known about the behavior, could have prevented the abuse of the victim’s younger sister. She said the former head of school had the power to take action against Smith years earlier but chose not to.

She ask the jury to find Errichetti guilty of the charges.

“Who protects us from our protectors?” Shekita asked the jury. “Who protects the children?”

Errichetti’s defense attorney, Eileen Hurley, argued Monday that the former school leader did not know about the abuse and if she had known, she would have acted and would have done more than just fire Smith.

Errichetti has a a son at the school and over 17 years of experience as a teacher, Hurley said.

Hurley contended that Errichetti tried to take action but did not have enough evidence or information on the matter. She said Errichetti was the first person to confront Smith about the complaints when she learned of them and set guidelines for Smith about spending time with students.

“Why are we here? We’re here because they want someone to blame. Because everybody’s upset that that creep, Nick Smith, did what he did,” Hurley said.

Hurley also disputes that Errichetti knew about the abuse in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2016.

“This is not a criminal case with criminal intent,” Hurley said. “This is a woman who did everything she could.”

Staff writer Virginia Bridges contributed to this report.

©2022 Raleigh News & Observer. Visit newsobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.