Highgate Primary School teacher, Michael La Pietra, makes first court appearance for indecent assault charges against student

The identity of the Highgate Primary School teacher who was charged with aggravated indecent assault against a student can finally be revealed.

The name of a Highgate Primary School teacher charged with the indecent assault of a student can be revealed following his first appearance in court.

Michael “Mike” La Pietra, a 64-year-old primary teacher, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court before Magistrate Brian Nitschke on Thursday.

Michael La Pietra, centre, leaves the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday. Picture: Leah Smith

Mr La Pietra is facing two counts of aggravated indecent assault – but the details of the allegations before the court have been suppressed following an application by defence counsel.

The news of Mr La Pietra’s arrest broke after The Advertiser obtained a letter, dated Thursday, February 16, from Highgate School principal Nicola Brelsford to parents.

Ms Brelsford wrote that the teacher had been arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated indecent assault and was suspended from duty.

A second letter was sent out on the Friday morning, and Ms Brelsford said she would “like to clarify one key point”.

The first letter sent home to Highgate School parents and caregivers.

A second letter sent out on Friday, February 17 sent to Highgate Primary School parents.

“As I advised, regretfully a teacher from our school has been charged with two counts of aggravated indecent assault,” she said.

Michael La Pietra, left, leaves court on Thursday. Picture: Eva Blandis

“I would like to make it clear that the alleged offending was against a student from our school.”

The letters were met with outrage from parents, with one father telling The Advertiser it the letter was “bulls – t”.

SA Police confirmed the teacher had been arrested on Monday, February 12.

In a statement following the arrest, an Education Department spokeswoman said the matter had been handled “in keeping with the protocols laid out in the Debelle Report”.

The 280-page report, published in 2013, was scathing of the department’s failures over prior allegations and incidents of child sex abuse by employees.

The court heard the investigation into Mr La Pietra’s alleged offending were in their “infancy” and publishing the details of the offence could interfere with the proper administration of justice.

Mr La Pietra was previously unnameable under Section 71a of the Evidence Act, which suppressed his name, age and gender from publication until the conclusion of his court appearance on Thursday.

Originally, the Act prohibited publication of the identities of alleged sex offenders until they were remanded for trial – that was changed in 2020 following a campaign by The Advertiser.

Mr La Pietra will return to the Adelaide Magistrates Court in October this year.