Parents come to principal's defense

Pawtucket, R.I. (WPRI) - As the principal at the Elizabeth Baldwin School in Pawtucket faces sexual assault charges, several parents are coming to Raymond Dalton's defense.

"I don't think this is true," said Maria Monteiro.

Monteiro has a child at Elizabeth Baldwin, Pawtucket's largest elementary school. She said the indictment against Dalton is surprising.

"I met with him a lot of times and he didn't show up to me like that."

Another parent, who didn't want to give her name, questioned the timing of the allegations.

"Why come out now. That's the thing. If it happened, bring it up then. Now now."

A former student alleges Dalton sexually abused him during a three-year period starting in 1995.

A grand jury Tuesday handed up an indictment that charged Dalton with three counts of first-degree child molestation and two counts of second-degree child molestation.

Dalton's attorney said the principal is innocent and that the accuser is an inmate motivated to win leniency for himself.

Dalton will be arraigned Dec. 17. In the meantime, the school officials have reassigned him to the superintendent's office, until the criminal allegations are resolved.