The attorney for a former Fond du Lac High School teacher and coach says his client is embarrassed by the publicity generated in the wake of allegations that he carried on a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student. Ray Dall’osto is defending 35-year-old Eugene Henry Dennis who was employed by the Fond du Lac School District until June. Dennis allegedly carried on a relationship with the girl from December of last year to this past April.
“Mr. Dennis at this point in time is, as you can quite imagine, embarrassed by this whole situation, by the fact that he is in court and got the publicity here,” Dall’osto told reporters who mobbed the courthouse in Fond du Lac for Thursday’s initial hearing in the case. “He’s lived a very appropriate and I think a very caring life.” Devra Ayala, the assistant district attorney prosecuting the case, did not comment.
A $25,000 signature bond was set. Bond conditions include no contact with the victim, girls under 18-years of age, the school, former athletes Dennis coached. And he’s not allowed to teach. Dall’osto said Dennis has had some jobs, but is finding it hard to get them. “He’s trying to find work and has been doing some jobs, but not teaching,” said Dall’osto. “(I) can’t get into any specifics about whether anything’s right, wrong or indifferent at this point in time. I’ve just seen the criminal complaint,” Dall’osto told reporters. “We will do our investigation to find out what the allegations are, who allegedly has made them, where things are going and then we’ll have better knowledge down the line, okay?” Dennis will be back in court for a preliminary hearing on October 29th.
Bob Nelson, KFIZ