KENOSHA, Wis — A former Kenosha principal made his first appearance in Kenosha County court Thursday afternoon after he was charged with sexual assault of a student last month.
Curtiss Tolefree, 42, faces three counts of sexual assault of a student by school staff and two counts of exposing genitals or pubic area.
Tolefree signed a $10,000 signature bond after his appearance in court and walked out without responding to any questions. He has not been arrested.
Investigators believe the charges against Tolefree happened more than a decade ago.
"These allegations are over 11 years of age. And that's a considerable period of time, long ago," Tolefree's attorney Denise Hertz-McGrath told the court. "The young lady was not a child, not a baby allegedly. Obviously she was 17,18 years of age."
According to the criminal complaint, a student identified as "Jane Doe" told investigators she had sex with Tolefree "just about every day at school during her junior year" in 2008 and 2009 at Bradford High School, where Tolefree was the dean of students.
The complaint says the alleged encounters ended when Tolefree started working at Washington Middle School.
TODAY'S TMJ4 filed an open records request for Tolefree's personnel file. Records during Tolefree's time as principal at Washington Middle School show the district investigated him in July 208, for "creating an intimidating environment for two subordinates as a result of his inappropriate sexual relationships with the two subordinates; creating an intimidating and hostile environment at Washington Middle School as a whole; and engaging in conduct creating discord by creating a culture at Washington Middle School that was significantly impacted by his inappropriate relationships and failed leadership."
The personnel file goes on to allege Tolefree, "engaged in “grooming” and predatory behaviors in which staff members view Mr. Tolefree as targeting vulnerable female employees and utilizing teh employees to his advantage to advance his agenda and reputation.”
The records show Kenosha Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Sue Savaglio-Jarvis recommended Tolefree be fired immediately. According to a statement from Tolefree in his file, he resigned and wrote, "I am disappointed and object to the statements that have been said about me and my leadership style."
At last check, Tolefree is on administrative leave as principal at Beulah Park Elementary School in Zion, Illinois.
Tolefree is set to return to court on January 17.
