Black Principal of High School Charged with Raping Employee

Miami Herald
March 11, 2014

Peter Nicholson, 55, the principal of a small charter high school in Pompano Beach, was charged this week with sexually assaulting a female employee.
Peter Nicholson, the principal of a small charter high school in Pompano Beach, was charged this week with sexually assaulting a female employee.

The principal of a small Pompano Beach charter high school was charged this week with sexually assaulting a female employee in October, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

Detectives say Peter Nicholson, 55, of Coral Springs, was at Flagler High School, 1951 W. Copans Rd., when he forced himself on the employee as she worked in the office.

According to the report, Nicholson began to rub her back and “then placed her against a wall and started to kiss her face area.” The woman told Nicholson “several times to stop, but he refused,” according to the report.

He forcibly pulled down her pants and had sex with her against her will, the report said.

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The location of the school.

BSO spokeswoman Dani Moschella said the woman, who went to police Feb. 21, waited several months to report the Oct. 26 incident because she was afraid of losing her job.

“Experts say it’s common for rape victims to delay reporting or never report it all,” Moschella said. “We commend this victim for coming forward.”

Through the investigation, detectives learned that Nicholson apologized to the woman and told her that he shouldn’t have abused his power.

Moschella said Nicholson was arrested Wednesday, but was out Thursday on a $5,000 bond.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact BSO Special Victims Unit Detective Joe Ventura at 954-321-4240. Victims of sexual violence in need of help in Broward County can contact the Nancy J. Cotterman Center, the county’s certified rape crisis center, at 954-357-5775, or call the 24-hour rape hotline at 954-761-RAPE (7273.)