WILMINGTON, MA — Wilmington High School physical education teacher Anthony J. Altieri was arrested on Sunday, September 11 at his Essex home on charges of domestic assault and battery on an intimate partner, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and destruction of personal property.
According to the Gloucester Times (Phys ed teacher arrested for domestic assault by Sean Horgan), the female victim told the police that a verbal dispute turned physical, allegedly ending with Altieri grabbing her by the back of her head and smashing her face into a door frame.
The officer, who interviewed the alleged victim at the hospital, noted her nose appeared to be extremely swollen and possibly broken, with an open wound on the bridge. The officer also observed a large, open laceration on her forehand.
The Gloucester Times, citing police documents, reported that Altieri admitted to police he struck the alleged victim. Altieri noted, however, she slapped him first before he stuck her.
Altieri was placed on administrative leave on Wednesday, September 14. He was allowed to return to the classroom on Monday, September 22. In announcing her controversial decision to allow Altieri to return so quickly, then Superintendent Mary DeLai pointed to Altieri’s strong record of performance and tenure at Wilmington High.
“We hope that people respect that he is owed his day in court and his right to privacy,” she added.
According to yesterday’s Gloucester Times (Domestic case against teacher to go to trial by Ray Lamont), Altieri was in Gloucester District Court for a hearing earlier this week. At that time, Judge Joseph Jennings III scheduled a bench trial for Friday, November 4.
Altieri’s attorney — Harold Rush-Lloyd — informed the court that he expects the alleged victim in the case to assert her right not to testify against a domestic partner. Rush-Lloyd told the Times the alleged victim believes the charges have been “overstated” and she disputes parts of the police report. Rush-Lloyd is optimistic his client’s case will ultimately be dismissed.
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