‘Broken woman’: School counsellor jailed after sexually assaulting student

A school counsellor will be put behind bars after assaulting an at-risk student in her office.

A now-fired counsellor at an elite Ohio Catholic boys’ school fought back tears as she was sentenced to prison after admitting to sexually assaulting a student — saying she had already lost her husband, home, and friends over her disgraceful behaviour.

Emily Nutley, 43, had asked to stay free on probation after admitting to the crime involving a 17-year-old student — but was left with tears in her eyes as a judge sentenced her to three years in prison, video by WLWT showed.

The married mum had told the judge that there was “no excuse” for her depraved behaviour, which included sexually assaulting the vulnerable teen in her office at their prestigious Jesuit school in Cincinnati, where she was supposed to help the most at-risk students, New York Post reported.

“I crossed a line that should never have been crossed,” Nutley said during sentencing at Hamilton County Court.

“I think every day about the impact of my actions. I’ve lost my husband, my home, my friends. I’ve caused harm and embarrassment to my children,” said the mum, whose husband filed for divorce soon after the scandal broke.

Emily Nutley, 43, has been sentenced to three years in prison for sexually assaulting a 17-year-old boy.

The affair started in the fall semester of 2023 at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. Photo: Fox19

Nutley’s husband, Jonathan, filed for divorce just weeks after she was fired in October last year when the student came forward.

It emerged in court that Nutley had exchanged naked images with the student and gave him a monthly allowance, as well as answers to an upcoming test.

She “preyed on the most defenceless person she could find,” prosecutors said in pre-sentencing documents seeking at least a five-year prison term.

She was described as a “broken woman” battling mental health and substance abuse issues by a doctor hired by her defence to examine her.

Nutley, however, made clear she did not expect forgiveness. “I have not earned it.”

Nutley’s victim wanted her to be handed a 10-year sentence. Photo: Fox19

Her victim had sought a 10-year sentence for his abuser, saying it forever changed his life.

“When the abuse started, I didn’t know I was being taken advantage of,” the victim said in a statement read out in court by Elyse Deters, the assistant prosecutor on the case.

“She would not leave me alone. She told me she would kill herself if I ended it. Even at sporting events, people yell her name at me.”

Nutley had pleaded guilty in April to two counts of sexual battery, each a third-degree felony.

On top of her three-year prison sentence, Nutley was ordered to serve probation for five years following her release.

She will also have to register as a Tier III sex offender every 90 days for the rest of her life.

This story first appeared in the New York Post and was republished with permission.

Originally published as ‘Broken woman’: School counsellor jailed after sexually assaulting student