Jessica Sawicki, a 37-year-old English teacher at Hamilton High School West in Trenton, New Jersey, has been arrested for child sexual assault. According to prosecutors, she engaged in multiple sexual encounters with a student.
The investigation revealed that Sawicki met the student at the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area in Upper Freehold Township for these illicit acts. She now faces five counts of second-degree sexual assault and five counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
According to authorities, Ms. Sawicki and the school student were found by New Jersey Fish and Wildlife inspectors on Sunday in a compromising state of undress.
As per an affidavit of probable cause obtained by the New York Post, Ms. Sawicki admitted to investigators that she and the boy engaged in at least five instances of “unprotected” intercourse within the 6,393-acre state-owned wildlife management area since December. These illicit encounters consistently took place inside the student’s car.
Remarkably, the teenager was at least 16 but not yet 18 years old. Authorities have confirmed that Ms. Sawicki was arrested and taken into custody on Monday. She is currently being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution until her detention hearing next week.
A statement on the school district’s website announced that Ms. Sawicki has been placed on administrative leave from her $41,000-per-year employment. The statement emphasized that the school district acted promptly based on the information gathered, ensuring that she is no longer in an active role.
Additionally, the district fully cooperated with the prosecutor’s office during their investigation and will continue to do so as needed. The legal proceedings will determine her guilt or innocence, and it’s essential to respect the due process of law.
Principal Brian Smith and Superintendent Scott Rocco of Hamilton Township School District expressed their disapproval of the alleged incident, emphasizing that it contradicts the district’s professional standards.
They underscored their zero-tolerance policy for actions that could harm students and clarified that the behavior of one staff member does not reflect the collective efforts of the entire school community. Importantly, there is currently no evidence suggesting that the alleged actions occurred on school premises.
As reported by the outlet, the teacher’s profile was expunged from the school’s website teacher’s directory after her arrest. Previously, her profile indicated that she had dedicated seven years to the school.
In her now-deleted profile page, she expressed her genuine enjoyment in connecting with students and assisting them in their pursuit of personal growth and future aspirations.
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