Camden County Prosecutor Warren W. Faulk announces that three teachers and two administrators at a N.J. high school have been arrested on charges stemming from allegations involving sex with students.(Photo: Mel Evans, AP)
CAMDEN, N.J. -- Six months ago, a student came to Triton High
School Principal Catherine DePaul with a disturbing story: She believed
another student was involved in a sexual relationship with a teacher at
the school, and she'd seen explicit text messages the two had exchanged.
At
that moment, local prosecutors say, a cover-up was put in motion that
ultimately unraveled Thursday when DePaul, an assistant principal and
three teachers were charged with offenses ranging from child
endangerment to sexual assault and official misconduct.
Each of
the five adults has been suspended from the school in the Philadelphia
suburb of Runnemede, and each could face at least five years in prison
if convicted.
The teachers - all men in their late 20s or early
30s - are accused of striking up relationships with female students
during the 2011-2012 school year.
Sexual relationships between
teachers and students are not uncommon, but what distinguished the
alleged events at as the according to Camden County Prosecutor Warren
Faulk.
"These charges constitute individual personal, moral, legal and ethical failure," Faulk said at a news conference Thursday.
Faulk
said rape charges could not be filed because the sex acts were
consensual and the girls were 17 or 18 at the time - old enough to
consent under state law.
According to court documents, math
teacher Dan Michielli, 27, of Blackwood had intercourse with a student
multiple times during the school year. He is charged with official
misconduct, sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child and
criminal sexual conduct.
Gym teacher and boys' soccer coach Nick
Martinelli, 28, of Cherry Hill is charged with official misconduct
involving an 18-year-old. He allegedly touched and kissed the girl when
she was a student and had intercourse with her after she graduated in
June.
Math teacher and girls' track coach Jeff Logandro, 32, of
Blackwood is charged with official misconduct, criminal sexual contact
and endangering the welfare of a child. A court filing says he
inappropriately touched a female student.
Authorities say a
student, not one of the alleged victims, told a substitute teacher in
April that teachers were "hooking up" with students. Authorities say the
substitute teacher then told DePaul.
Prosecutors say the
principal met with the student, who told her she'd been to one of the
teacher's homes with a girl who was involved with him and had seen the
explicit text messages. Authorities say that DePaul asked her to write
an account of what she had heard and that Assistant Principal Jernee
Kollock stayed with the student to help her write the statement, even
helping her with her grammar - but also making it seem less serious.
Around
the same time, Faulk said, DePaul learned one of the teachers had
driven an alleged victim and another student to Ocean City in violation
of district policy. But, he said, the teacher was merely reprimanded.
Faulk said neither administrator contacted authorities. Both were charged with official misconduct.
Faulk said DePaul later said she wished she had been more concerned for the students than the teachers.
The
defendants either could not be reached or did not return messages left
Thursday afternoon by The Associated Press. All five are due in court
Oct. 11.
The teachers were suspended by the Black Horse Regional
School District last month; the administrators were suspended Thursday.
Superintendent John Golden said in a statement that the district was
cooperating with authorities, notifying families of students of what
allegedly happened and offering counseling.
"In addition, we have
initiated a comprehensive review of our existing policies, protocols and
training and education materials to prevent this from happening again
at this or any district school," the statement said.
Associated Press