A Zion elementary school principal was charged this month with three felony counts of sexually assaulting a student a decade ago while a dean at a Kenosha high school, Wisconsin court records show.
In the complaint, filed Friday by the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office, prosecutors allege Curtiss W. Tolefree Jr., now the principal at Beulah Park Elementary School, had sex with the student many times over the course of her junior and senior years, including at the school, his home and two hotels.
Prosecutors say Tolefree had sex “just about every day” with the Bradford High School student. The sexual conduct is alleged to have started in October or November of 2008 when the student was 17 years old, according to the complaint.
Tolefree could not be reached for comment. A message left for the Zion District 6 spokeswoman Monday was not returned.
While the student was above the age of consent in Wisconsin, state law prohibits sexual intercourse between students and school staff members. The felony counts carry a maximum sentence of six years or a fine of $10,000.
The Wisconsin court issued a summons for Tolefree, who is ordered to appear in court on Jan. 2 or face a possible arrest warrant.
The News-Sun reported last year that Tolefree, who was hired by Zion School District 6 in July 2018, was facing allegations of inappropriate sexual relationships with subordinates when he resigned from the Kenosha Unified School District.
The Kenosha superintendent had recommended to the school board he be fired but Tolefree, who has denied the allegations, resigned before the board could consider the recommendation, district records showed.
Zion District 6 has defended its process for vetting candidates, which included a background check and confirming Tolefree’s employment with the Kenosha district.
Zion was supplied with demographic information, such as job title and dates of employment, but not the full personnel file, which would have included the sexual harassment allegations.