CASTELLAMMARE. A 38-year-old support teacher from Castellammare has been indicted by the preliminary investigations judge (GIP) of the Torre Annunziata court, Emanuela Cozzitorto. The teacher faces serious charges including mistreatment, sexual violence, inducement to commit sexual acts, and corruption of minors. These alleged crimes were committed against several students, all under 14 years of age, at a middle school in Stabia approximately one year ago.
Ministry of Education Joins as Civil Party
The Ministry of Education, represented by the State Attorney’s Office, will participate in the trial as a civil party. This move aligns with the families of seven students who are alleged victims of the various crimes attributed to the teacher. All the victim families are represented by lawyer Antonio de Martino.
The investigation, conducted by the Carabinieri of the Castellammare di Stabia company and coordinated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Torre Annunziata (Prosecutor Nunzio Fragliasso, Deputy Bianca Maria Colangelo), led to the woman’s arrest last January. Following extensive and complex evidentiary hearings that lasted throughout the summer, the 38-year-old teacher is currently under house arrest.
Evidence from Protected Hearings and Chats
The findings from the investigations, which included protected hearings with the children in the presence of a psychologist, reportedly confirmed the veracity and reliability of the minors’ accounts. Among these was the testimony of a 12-year-old boy who told his mother he had been coerced into a sexual act with the teacher. The charges also include sexually explicit content in certain chats, “sexualizing” behaviors, and the viewing of explicit videos at school.
Parents Indicted for Assaulting Teacher
In a separate but related development, eleven individuals, identified as parents of students, have also been indicted. They face charges of aggravated assault in concert, threats, property damage, and interruption of public service. These offenses are further aggravated by being committed against a public official in the presence of minors and by multiple individuals. The alleged assault occurred inside the school the day after the parents filed their initial complaint against the teacher.
In this second case, the 38-year-old teacher herself, assisted by lawyer Francesco Cappiello, is a civil party, alongside her father, who suffered a fractured arm during the violent assault. The first hearing for this case is scheduled for March.
Legal Proceedings Underway
The indictment of the support teacher marks a significant step in the legal process, bringing the serious allegations to a full trial. The involvement of the Ministry of Education underscores the gravity of the accusations and the institutional commitment to protecting minors within the educational system. The parallel indictment of the parents highlights the intense emotional and community reaction to the initial allegations.
The trials are expected to shed further light on the complex series of events that have deeply impacted the school community in Castellammare. The outcomes will be closely watched by both the local community and broader public, given the sensitive nature of the allegations and the involvement of multiple parties.
