News Summary
The Rhode Island Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of former Providence Public Schools administrator Olayinka Alege for assaulting a minor. The ruling confirms Alege’s conviction based on sufficient evidence and dismisses his appeal. After previously being found guilty, Alege faced a retrial due to new testimonies. The case has raised concerns about school administrator vetting processes in Rhode Island and the importance of safeguarding students in educational environments.
Providence, Rhode Island – The Rhode Island Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of Olayinka Alege, a former Providence Public Schools administrator, for assaulting a minor. In a ruling announced on Monday, the Court confirmed Alege’s conviction for simple assault and/or battery, dismissing his appeal and affirming a prior jury’s decision.
Alege, aged 44, was previously found guilty in December 2023 following a lengthy legal process that initially began with a trial in April 2022. That first trial ended in a mistrial due to the jury’s inability to reach a unanimous decision. The case against Alege stemmed from an incident that took place on April 20, 2021, at the Edge Fitness Club in Warwick, where the minor testified that Alege had approached him while he was exercising. During this interaction, Alege asked the boy about blisters on his foot and then proceeded to forcibly remove his sock and shoe, massaging his foot without consent.
After the incident, the minor reported the encounter to his parents, who contacted the police. Alege initially denied the allegations but later stated that he merely “touched” the victim’s foot. As a result of his conviction, he has been sentenced to one year in prison, which has been suspended, following a probation period and a mandate to complete 140 hours of community service.
In his appeal, Alege argued that the trial judge made errors by disallowing certain evidence and showed bias against him. However, the Supreme Court determined that there was sufficient evidence supporting the charges and affirmed the decisions made by the trial judge regarding witness testimonies and procedural affairs. This ruling highlights the judicial system’s confidence in the evidentiary decisions made throughout the case.
During the retrial, a second victim also testified, revealing that Alege had assaulted him in a similar manner at the same gym in February 2021, further substantiating the severity of the allegations against Alege.
Alege was hired as the Network Superintendent of Secondary Schools for Providence Public Schools in 2020, a position he held until his arrest. Following the allegations, State Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green and Providence Superintendent Harrison Peters requested his resignation, which he submitted promptly.
Alege’s background indicates a history of concerning behavior towards students; prior allegations surfaced in 2009 in Florida when he faced criticism for inappropriate disciplinary actions, particularly a controversial practice known as “toe popping.” These incidents raised questions about the hiring practices and oversight of school administrators in Rhode Island.
This case underscores significant concerns regarding the vetting process for educational professionals and the responsibility of school districts to ensure a safe environment for students. The Rhode Island Supreme Court’s decision reinforces the importance of judicial accountability and protection for minors in educational settings.
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Additional Resources
- Patch: Former Providence School Administrator’s Criminal Conviction
- Boston Globe: RI Upholds Conviction of Former Providence School Administrator
- Providence Journal: RI Supreme Court Upholds Conviction of Ex-School Admin
- WPRI: West Warwick Teacher Accused of Assaulting Student
- Warwick Post: WPS Contracts Probe of Oliver Gothberg
- Wikipedia: Legal System
- Google Search: School Administrator Misconduct
- Google Scholar: Educational Administration
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education
- Google News: School Abuse News
Author: STAFF HERE PROVIDENCE WRITER
The PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREProvidence.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Providence, Providence County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as WaterFire, Rhode Island International Film Festival, and Rhode Island Comic Con. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in finance and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Citizens Financial Group and Textron. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Rhode Island's dynamic landscape.
