Former Teacher Pleads Not Guilty To Sex Assault Charges

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A west suburban woman pleaded not guilty Wednesday to sexually assaulting four students while she was a teacher at a Northwest Side Christian school more than 10 years ago.

Eliza Martinelli, 34, of 1539 S. Raymond Dr. in Naperville was charged June 6 with four counts of criminal sexual assault, according to Chicago Police.

On Wednesday, Martinelli pleaded not guilty, according to Cook County State's Attorney's office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton. Martinelli, who is being held in the Cook County Jail on $1.5 million bond, is scheduled for a status hearing on Aug. 9, Simonton said.

Another man who also worked at the school, Nelson Quintana Jr., 27, is charged with one count of misdemeanor criminal sexual abuse in the case, police said.

Martinelli, who no longer works for the school, is accused of assaulting three girls and a boy several years ago while they were students and she was a teacher at Dayspring Christian Academy at 5133 W. Fullerton Ave.

The alleged crimes occurred in the late 1990s but were not reported until April, according to police, who did not disclose the ages of the alleged victims.

Dayspring Academy is a private Baptist school with students from pre-K through grade 12, according to an online directory.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)