When parents in New Jersey and elsewhere send their children to school, they expect that the adult teachers, administrators and facility staff will take care to ensure that the students are safe and secure. When that trust is violated, the result is usually outrage in the community. That said, not every individual accused of a crime is guilty, which is a consideration that must be made in every school sex crimes case that makes the news.
A recent matter has received a large amount of media attention. A former substitute teacher is charged with sex crimes against more than one student. The woman, who is 21 years of age, worked as a substitute teacher at two Haledon high schools. She was first arrested last fall when she was accused of having sexual relations with a 16-year-old boy. She faces charges of sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault and criminal sexual contact in that matter.
As police conducted their investigation, they allegedly found incriminating evidence within the woman's cell phone that led them to believe that she had sent provocative text messages and photos to several other underage boys. Additional charges have been added to the case, including child endangerment. In total, four teenage boys claim to have had some form of inappropriate contact with the substitute teacher, and police have stated that more charges could follow.
Many New Jersey residents are outraged at the idea that a teacher would take advantage of her position within the school to have any form of sexual contact or communication with students. However, the matter has not yet gone before a court of law, and a plea deal in the case has already been turned down. The former substitute, through her attorney, has stated that she is planning to fight the sex crimes charges in court.
Source: northjersey.com, "Former substitute teacher indicted on sex charges involving a Haledon teen", Jeff Green, June 5, 2015