David Ettlinger, former Newton teacher, faces new child porn, indecent assault charges; allegedly attacked girl he babysat

By Brian R. Ballou, Globe Staff

David Ettllinger, a former Newton elementary school teacher already charged with indecently assaulting one child and disseminating child pornography, denied new charges that he sexually assaulted a girl he babysat.

WOBURN -- A former Newton elementary teacher, already charged with indecently assaulting one child and disseminating child pornography, appeared in court today to face a new set of charges, for allegedly sexually assaulting a girl he babysat.

David Ettlinger appeared in Middlesex Superior Court here today where he pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including five counts of aggravated indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14.

According to the office of Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr., Ettlinger is also charged with posing a child in a state of nudity, posing a child in sexual conduct, possession of child pornography, and secretly recording a partially nude person.

Ettlinger pleaded not guilty to those charges and was ordered held on $50,000 cash bail by Clerk Magistrate Michael Sullivan. He was also ordered to stay away from the victim, her family and children under the age of 16 years old.

Ettlinger’s defense attoney, Tanis M. Yannetti, told reporters outside the courthouse that the 34-year-old Ettlinger continues to have the backing of his family.

“He is disappointed to hear about these new allegations,’’ Yanetti said. “However, my client has the full support of his family...We ask you to continue to respect the privacy of my client's family as they continue to deal with, and process, the allegations.’’

In court papers, Middlesex prosecutors identified the victim by the pseudonym of Jane. After federal agents seized Ettlinger’s computer on Jan. 17, investigators scoured its hard drive and discovered a folder with the girl’s name on it.

“In some of the images and movies, Jane is awake and playing. In others, she appears to be soundly sleeping,’’ prosecutors wrote. “In a folder bearing her name, images and movies were found of Jane’’ where the child was allegedly displayed partially nude.

Prosecutors added that Ettlinger captured images of himself “indecently assaulting Jane, who was under the age of fourteen at the time.’’

Ettlinger allegedly assaulted the girl while he was babysitting her. Ettlinger had an account with Sittercity.com, but it was not clear if he got the babysitting job through the online service. His membership with sittercity.com was revoked following his first arrest.

Prosecutors said the child was not one of his students at the Underwood Elementary School in Newton, where he was a long-time and popular second grade teacher known as ‘’Mr. E.’’

Ettlinger resigned from his job last week.

Last month, Ettlinger pleaded not guilty in West Roxbury District Court to charges of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and posing a child in a state of nudity. He also pleaded not guilty in Brighton District Court to related charges of possession of child pornography.

Ettlinger is being held on high bail for the Suffolk County cases.

He has been targeted by federal investigators in Lousiana for allegedly participating in a global child pornography network through what was known as the Dreamboard website.