A Denver middle school principal was served with a summons Monday on misdemeanor charges of failure to report a crime at her school and was temporarily removed from her job, her attorney said.
Nicole Veltze, 37, principal of Skinner Middle School in northwest Denver, will appear in court Feb. 21, according to her attorney, Rich Caschette.
Veltze will be assigned to the Denver Public Schools central offices until the legal matter is resolved, said Alex Sanchez, DPS spokesman.
“The district and Ms. Veltze mutually agreed that an interim reassignment would be in the best interest of the students and staff in order to minimize disruption,” he said.
Police said the case has been forwarded to the district attorney’s office. A DA spokeswoman could not be reached for comment Monday, which was a state and federal holiday.
According to Caschette, Veltze had been investigating a sexual-harassment claim that one student made against others at the school in December.
“These are 13-year-old kids doing what 13-year-olds do,” he said. “One complained. She did an investigation.”
Police were notified by a parent of a child involved in the allegation, and authorities say Veltze violated the law by failing to call police about the incident in a timely matter, he said.
“These charges . . . arise because of a turf battle between the Denver Police Department and Denver Public Schools . . . between reporting requirements,” Caschette said.
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
