Former Bridgewater State University professor from Plymouth indicted on sexual assault charges concerning students

BROCKTON – A now terminated Bridgewater State University professor has been indicted on rape and other charges after several female students came forward to report to police that they had been sexually assaulted, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.

On Monday, a Plymouth County Grand Jury indicted Nicholas Pirelli, 37, of Plymouth, on one count each of Rape, Indecent Assault and Battery on a Person Over 14, Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude, Engaging in Sexual Conduct for a Fee, and three counts of Dissemination of Obscene Matter.

The indictments follow an investigation by Bridgewater State University Police Department after a female student came forward to report an incident of inappropriate sexual conduct by Pirelli, then a temporary faculty member at the university, that occurred in October, 2019. The female victim reported that in 2019, she created an account on the website, “seeking.com,” which is a match website. Pirelli and the victim texted back and forth multiple times before Pirelli sent inappropriate pictures.

After the initial report by this victim, four additional female students at BSU reported to police that Pirelli had reached out to them on various social media platforms, including “seeking.com,” A few of these students rejected Pirelli’s advances after his identity as a professor was revealed, but Pirelli persisted in contacting the women and attempting to engage in sexual activity with them. It is alleged that Pirelli would frequently send money to the women via the Venmo application, as well as offer them assistance with on-campus employment and academic assignments.

After Pirelli’s arraignment, he was placed on leave, he was allowed on campus only with permission, and his public relations classes were reassigned to other faculty members. Pirelli has since been terminated from BSU.