Two More Students Accuse Ex-Teacher of Sex Abuse

By Mike Pignataro

Two more students have recently come forward, accusing their former William Mason School first-grade teacher of sexual assault, according to affidavits on file with the Morris County Court.

Jason Fennes, 37, of Bloomfield, who has been jailed since March, now faces additional charges for an alleged sexual relationship with a Butler High School track athlete he coached in the mid-’90s and for allegedly sexually assaulting two William Mason first-grade students during the 2006-07 school year.

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The two former students alleged Fennes asked both of them on separate occasions to sit on his lap and touched them inappropriately in the classroom, the affidavit said. One victim said Fennes had her sit on his lap on “four or five occasions,” the affidavit said.

The other victim also alleged Fennes had her touch him inappopriately, the affidavit said. The victim also told Montville Police she witnessed Fennes allegedly engaging in sexual acts with another student when the two were detained by the teacher while the rest of the class left the room, the affidavit said.

These accusations resulted in Fennes being charged on Thursday with two counts of second-degree sexual assault of a child less than 13 years of age and two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

Fennes was also charged on Thursday with first-degree aggravated sexual assault for allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with a Butler High School student who was 14 at the time and a member of the track team he coached. He was also charged with second-degree sexual assault for the relationship that allegedly lasted “several years,” according to a statement the victim provided to police.

The latest victims came forward after hearing the charges filed in March against Fennes, who remains jailed with bail set at $500,000 with no 10 percent option.

Fennes, who worked in the Montville School District from September 1998 until he resigned in June 2010, was originally arrested on March 8 on charges of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. According to an arrest affidavit filed with the Morris County Court, an investigation revealed Fennes allegedly sexually abused a girl in his first-grade class in 2005.

Fennes was released on bail, but was arrested on March 12 on charges he sexually assaulted a second student in his class during the 2006-07 school year.

Source : patch