By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

DESTREHAN — Shelley Dufresne, one of two Destrehan High School teachers arrested last year and accused by authorities of having inappropriate sexual contact with a 16-year-old male student at the school, is scheduled to stand trial May 20-22.

Dufresne, 34, of 805 Country Cottage Blvd. in Montz was arrested Sept. 30 on a warrant for one count of carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

“Dufresne, who is a teacher at Destrehan High School, allegedly had inappropriate sexual contact with a 16-year-old student who attends Destrehan High School,” St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne said during the week of the arrest. “The incident occurred in the early part of September at a residence in Montz.” 

Dufresne is free on a $200,000 bond set by Judge Lauren Lemmon. She remains on house arrest.

Champagne said St. Charles Parish Public School District officials first brought the reported incident to the attention of the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office Sept. 26, when reports of a male student bragging to others about having a sexual relationship with teachers became public.

Kenner Police detectives arrested Dufresne and another DHS teacher, Rachel Respess, Oct. 1. Kenner Police Chief Michael J. Glaser said each woman was booked with one count of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile, indecent behavior with juveniles and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles for allegedly having group sex with the victim in September in Respess’ Kenner apartment.

Each woman was released on a $7,000 bond. 

“These charges stem from unlawful sexual acts with a 16-year-old victim that occurred at a residence in the city of Kenner on the night of Friday, September 12, and carrying over into the early morning of Saturday, September 13,” Glaser said in an October press conference.