Preschool owner, teacher charged with raping boy

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - It was a parent’s worst nightmare after a 3-year-old boy said he was sexually assaulted by his preschool teacher.

Dermot Newman, 59, who has been charged with raping the boy, faced a judge Sunday.

CYFD is also looking into the case.

Newman owns the Peppermint Stick Preschool on Jefferson near Lomas, where the boy says it happened.

A criminal complaint says the boy told his mom that Newman bit his private areas.

That is when police were called and Newman was arrested Saturday.

Newman's lawyer asked the judge to lower his bond, saying he has no known criminal history.

The judge said that did not matter.

“I will find the allegations based on the complaint are concerning in the nature of themselves I do believe that he's poses a danger to the community especially in the position that he's in,” Judge Henry Alaniz said.

The judge kept Newman’s bond at $100,000 but changed it to a surety bond, meaning he only needs $10,000 to get out.

Newman posted his bond Sunday afternoon.

The judge told the teacher that he is not allowed to go back to the preschool while the case is pending.

The preschool will be open Monday.

Newman and his wife have owned the preschool for 33 years.

She and other family members were in court saying the allegations are false.