A Morris County grand jury indicted an Essex County man on charges of sexually assaulting and endangering his former first-grade students at the William Mason Elementary School in the Montville school district.
39-year-old Bloomfield resident Jason Fennes is accused of sexually abusing four (4) female students at the elementary school between 2005 and 2008. According to the prosecutor’s office, the alleged abuse occurred in Montville, New Jersey.
The investigation into Mr. Fennes’ conduct began in December 2011. Mr. Fennes was arrested on March 5, 2012.
Now Mr. Fennes has been indicted on charges of first degree aggravated sexual assault, second degree sexual assault, and second degree endangering the welfare of a child.
In New Jersey, a conviction for aggravated sexual assault carries severe penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2a, a person is guilty of aggravated sexual assault if he commits an act of sexual penetration with a victim who is less than 13 years old. If convicted of first degree aggravated sexual assault, Mr. Fennes could be sentenced to up to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison. And because the No Early Release Act (NERA) would apply, Mr. Fennes may be required to serve at least 85% his sentence.
Mr. Fennes is being held at the Morris County Correctional Facility in lieu of $225,000.00 bail.
For more information, see the NJ.com article entitled “Essex County Man Indicted for Alleged Sexual Assault of First-Grade Students in Morris County.”
