Principal charged with sexual assault

PAWTUCKET, R.I.— A grand jury has indicted the principal of Pawtucket’s largest public elementary school on charges he sexually assaulted a former student a decade ago.

Raymond Dalton, principal of the Elizabeth Baldwin School, was charged Tuesday with three counts of first-degree child molestation and two counts of second-degree child molestation.

Prosecutors allege the assaults happened during a three-year period starting in 1995. Dalton’s attorneys said the principal is innocent and that the accuser is an inmate motivated to win
leniency for himself.

The alleged victim was a student at the school in the late 1990s, and that’s when he claims the molestation happened. The school said it did its own investigation but didn’t find any evidence. But because of the grand jury’s indictment, administrators have removed Dalton from having any contact with children until the case is resolved.

A school department attorney told NBC 10 that Dalton is a longtime employee with a virtually spotless record. 

Dalton’s attorneys responded in a written statement.

“These outrageous allegations are false. These allegations arise from a violent felon and career criminal with a motivation to better his current prison situation. Ray Dalton is innocent and looks forward to his day in court,“ John MacDonald and Peter DiBiase said in the statement e-mailed to NBC 10.

Dalton will be arraigned Dec. 17 in Providence Superior Court.