Former Providence school administrator loses appeal in foot touching conviction

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Rhode Island Supreme Court has upheld the foot touching conviction of a former Providence school administrator found guilty of simple battery in a case involving a teenage student boy.

Olayinka Alege, who once served as the network superintendent of secondary schools for Providence Public Schools, was accused of touching a boy’s foot without consent at a Warwick gym in April 2021. Security footage from the facility was used as evidence during the trial and played a key role in the outcome.

Alege was convicted of simple battery in his third trial. He was sentenced to probation with no time to serve.

Following the conviction, Alege appealed the verdict, arguing that the judge made several legal errors during the proceedings. On Monday, the Rhode Island Supreme Court rejected those claims and affirmed the conviction.

At the time the allegations surfaced, Alege was placed on leave from his position in the school district and later resigned.