Alexandra Romanos, 41, a Somerville teacher, pleads not guilty in court after being indicted for allegedly having a relationship with a 13-year-old.
Credit: Nicolaus Czarnecki, Metro
A Somerville teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old was released on bail Wednesday and ordered to say away from children under 16, except for her own.
Alexandra Romanos, 41, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday. She was indicted by a grand jury earlier this month on charges including aggravated rape and disseminating material harmful to a minor.
In a barely audible voice, Romanos answered “not guilty” when a court clerk asked how she pleads to the charges. She and her lawyer, Carmine Lepore, refused to comment to reporters after the hearing.
Assistant District Attorney Marisa Tagliareni did not request additional bail and said that both sides agreed to have Romanos’ district court bail transferred to the superior court, meaning Romanos was able to stay out on bail. Her conditions of release were still imposed, which include wearing a GPS monitoring device, staying away from Somerville schools and having no contact with children under 16 except for her own.
Authorities have accused Romanos, a teacher at the East Somerville Community School, of initiating a relationship with the teen.
School officials have placed Romanos on leave.
Her case is scheduled for a hearing next month.
Follow Michael Naughton on Twitter @metrobosmike.
