Former Norwalk school counselor Luisa Melchionne charged with sexually abusing teenager

A guidance counselor at a Connecticut middle school sent nude photos and gave “lap dances” to a 13-year-old student in her office. The alleged sexual abuse began when she lent a friend her cellphone, which was filled with explicit text messages she had sent to the teen, police said.

Married mother of three Luisa Melchionne, 47, was arrested Thursday, months after a male friend borrowed her cellphone when his broke and found lewd messages between the kindergarten teacher and the teenager, police records show.

The former Nathan Hale Middle School employee was charged with second-degree sexual assault and two counts of endangering a minor, Norwalk police said.

She has since left her job at Norwalk Public Schools.

Authorities began investigating the New Canaan resident in late April when the boyfriend contacted police after finding messages on his phone that “appeared to be sexual in nature,” according to an arrest warrant affidavit reported by the Norwalk Hour.

According to police documents, the messages also contained explicit photos of Melchionne and financial transactions.

When police reached him, the teenager told investigators he received nude photos from Melchionne around Christmas last year, as well as payments for Uber rides, food and $100, according to the affidavit, which was also reported by NBC Connecticut.

The student also testified that Melchionne performed “lap dances” and other sexual acts on him behind closed doors and with the blinds drawn, according to the affidavit filed by the two media outlets.

According to the Hour, prosecutor Paul Ferencek said in court that the victim was 13 years old at the time of the crime.

“The safety of our students is our top priority. Luisa Melchionne is no longer employed by Norwalk Public Schools,” the school system said in a statement, according to NBC CT.

“Norwalk Public Schools is cooperating with the Norwalk Police Department in the investigation and has no further comment.”

Her attorney, Mark Sherman, told The Post that Melchionne quit her job last month.

“Luisa is still presumed innocent,” said Sherman, a Stamford-based criminal defense attorney.

“These are merely allegations. What we do know is that these charges are being brought against a devoted wife and mother who has dedicated herself to her profession for over 21 years, and it will take some time to investigate this case.”

Sherman said she posted $500,000 bail and was released Thursday.

Melchionne is banned from having unsupervised contact with minors, except for her three children, and is under house arrest, The Hour reported.