2nd Victim Accuses Ex-Teacher of Sexual Assault

A former Montville first-grade teacher faces additional sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child charges after a second victim came forward this week, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said Saturday morning.

Jason Fennes, who was released on bail earlier this week, was arrested at a Cranford residence Friday night on charges of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

Fennes, 37, formerly of Boonton who is now living in Bloomfield, is being held at the Morris County Correctional Facility on $300,000 bail with no 10 percent option.

According to Capt. Jeffrey Paul, a spokesman for Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, the latest charges are the result of a second victim coming forward regarding an alleged incident in Montville during the 2006-07 school year.

Fennes, a former first-grade teacher at , was arrested Monday afternoon and charged with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly abusing a girl who was in his class in 2005, authorities said.

Fennes was released on bail after appearing in court Wednesday on those charges. His attorney, Julian Wilsey, said his client denied the charges and the allegations stemmed from a grudge a man had with Fennes.

Fennes worked in the Montville school district from September 1998 until he resigned in June 2010, according to district Superintendent Dr. Paul Fried. Fried said Fennes had coached track at , but was not sure what years he coached.

The Montville Board of Education said this week Fennes had been for alleged improper conduct with students. However, those allegations did not include allegations of sexual contact, the board said.

After leaving the Montville school district, Fennes became a first-grade teacher at Cedar Hill Prep School in Somerset from September 2010 until a couple of weeks ago, according to a Cedar Hill Prep official, who declined to comment further.

Fennes has been removed from the MTC Rebels Track Club program, an independent club where he had been listed as a director, in light of the charges, club director Angelo Harasts said Tuesday.

Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi asks anyone with information regarding Fennes to contact the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes Unit at 973-285-6200, Montville Township Police Department at 973-257-4300 or the Morris County Crime Stopper Program at 973-COPCALL.