Affidavit: Former Teacher Sexually Assaulted Student

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.

Jason Fennes, 37, of Boonton, was arrested at the Morris County Prosecutor's Office on the second-degree charges and was scheduled to appear in court Monday afternoon.

Fennes worked in the district from September 1998 until he resigned in June 2010, according to district Superintendent Dr. Paul Fried, who started in the district the month after Fennes resigned.

Fried said the district was aware of an investigation because it was required to submit documents to the prosecutor's office. He said the district cooperated fully.

"We're concerned about the welfare of our students," Fried said. "We'll certainly be consulting with our director of guidance to see what kinds of steps we want to take to make sure the students in our school system are safe and secure, and offering support to anyone who needs it."

According to an affidavit on file with the Morris County courthouse, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office received a report in December about the alleged abuse, which reportedly occurred in 2005 when the girl would have been around 6 years old.

The girl, who is now about 13, told someone who authorities identified as a "citizen witness" about the alleged abuse in 2007. The witness came forward in December 2011. The witness wasn't sure what to do with the information and did not pursue the matter with police in 2007, according to the affidavit.

On Dec. 22, 2011, a detective interviewed the victim, who described two alleged incidents when she was in the first grade, according to the affidavit. In one instance, Fennes allegedly removed her coveralls and underwear, pulled down his own pants and underwear and inappropriately rubbed himself against the girl in a bathroom that was connected to the classroom, the affidavit said.

In the other reported incident, Fennes allegedly had the girl sit on his lap and he pulled open his pants and had the girl touch him inappropriately at his desk while the rest of the class worked on an art project, according to the affidavit.

The charges stem from a joint investigation by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes Unit and the .

Bail was set at $100,000 with no 10 percent option.

The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office is asking anyone with information 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-COP-CALL.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported the year Fennes began working in Montville.