The New Jersey State Police have arrested Buena Regional High School teacher, William J. Jacobs, 32, of Folsom, N.J., for allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old female student.
During the investigation, detectives from the Troop “A” Criminal Investigations Office determined that from November 2016 to January 2017, Jacobs met with the student on more than one occasion and engaged in sexual relations. Investigators also discovered several hundred electronic communications between the two.
When Jacobs became aware of the investigation, detectives allege that he urged the victim not to cooperate with investigators.
William Jacobs was taken into custody Tuesday morning by the U.S. Marshals Service in Fort Lauderdale, F.L. and was lodged at the Broward County Correctional Facility pending extradition to New Jersey.
He was charged with official misconduct, sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, tampering with a witness, and obstruction.
The charges of Sexual Assault, Official Misconduct, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child are crimes of the 2nd degree, Witness Tampering is a 3rd degree crime, and Obstruction of Justice is a 4th degree crime.
A conviction for a 2nd degree crime carries a potential penalty of 5-10 years of incarceration in New Jersey State prison, a 3rd degree conviction carries a potential prison penalty of 3-5 years, and a 4th degree conviction may result in a prison term of up to 18 months.