A SCHOOL principal will fight allegations he sexually assaulted a woman in Moree last year.
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Hilton Stanley Humphries did not appear in Moree Local Court when the case was briefly mentioned yesterday (Monday, September 22), but the defence has signalled they will proceed to hearing.
Humphries' solicitor told the court his client was pleading not guilty to all four offences after a brief of evidence was received.
The 56-year-old is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a victim under his authority, aggravated indecent assault and two counts of aggravated indecency.
Humphries was charged as he left Moree court in May after an investigation by Barwon detectives.
Detectives allege the victim was under the authority of Humphries while he was school principal of Moree Secondary College and the offences allegedly occurred in the Moree area last year.
Further details surrounding the allegations and the victim have been suppressed by the court as the case progresses.
Humphries remains on bail.
In August, a magistrate dismissed two counts of indecent assault involving a 10-year-old girl against Humphries.
The allegations centred on an incident in his principal office in 2013 and sparked an investigation by the Child Abuse Squad culminating in his arrest in Armidale in February.
Following a two-day hearing, Magistrate Greg Grogin said he wasn't satisfied the offences had occurred.
Humphries was one of 15 "super-principals" handpicked by the state government to spearhead its Connected Communities strategy, which is aimed at boosting the outcome of Aboriginal students in public schools.
When allegations arose against the principal last year, Humphries was directed to alternative duties away from his primary role but subsequently took leave.
The Education Department confirmed earlier this year Humphries had returned to work on alternative duties.