By: Richard L. Smith
Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, and West Orange Police Chief James P. Abbott have announced that a teacher has been charged in connection with the assault of an 11-year-old student at Mt. Carmel Guild Academy on Valley Way in West Orange.
Officials said Mr. Jaron Spicer, 32, of Bayonne, NJ, faces charges of second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Simple Assault, a disorderly person offense.
The incident reportedly occurred on or about April 18, 2024.
The victim's mother reported the assault to the West Orange Police Department on April 22, prompting an investigation by the police and detectives from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.
Following the investigation, Spicer was arrested by Prosecutor's detectives on July 16 and lodged in the Essex County Correctional Facility.
He was released after appearing in Essex County Central Judicial Processing (CJP) court, under the conditions that he has no contact with the victim and must regularly check in with the court as the case progresses.