The attorney representing Geneva Middle School Principal John DeFazio says his client is the victim of a vendetta led by students unhappy with his disciplinary enforcement, including the school’s dress code.
The Finger Lakes Times quotes Joe Damelio as saying “he was enforcing these things and a group of kids didn’t like it.” DeFazio was charged with endangering the welfare of a child after what school officials called an “inappropriate encounter” with a student at the school October 5th. While Damelio feels the charge will be dropped, he says DeFazio’s professional reputation has been damaged.
Geneva City Judge Bill Hart has scheduled a pre-trial conference for December 28th. DeFazio’s next court appearance is January 3rd. A trial date could be set at that time. De
DeFazio was hired in May. He had worked in the Rochester School District for eight years, most recently as a Middle School principal.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].