An elementary school teacher from New Jersey has been charged with allegedly abusing a student over the span of several years, with reports suggesting she also had a child with the boy.
Laura Caron, 34, who used to teach fifth grade at Middle Township Elementary School, is facing allegations of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student residing in her home, as reported by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office.
The abuse allegedly started when the boy was 11 in 2016 and carried on for four years until 2020 when he was 15.
During this time period, prosecutors said, Caron was employed as a fifth-grade teacher at the Middle Township Elementary School.
The investigation by police commenced last year following a tip-off after the victim’s father posted on Facebook, suggesting that Caron’s 5-year-old child bore a resemblance to his son, according to court documents referenced by Fox 29.
The outlet reported that Caron had taught the victim and at least one of his siblings.
The boy’s family later became friends with Caron and at some point, the victim and his siblings began staying with Caron once or twice a week, before they began living with Caron permanently from 2016 to 2020, the outlet reported.
Court documents also allege that the victim confirmed to police that he was in a sexual relationship with Caron and that he was the father of her young child.
The child was born when the victim was 13 years old.
A friend of Caron’s told The New York Post that the accused threw a baby shower for the child and told friends that the father was “out of the picture.”
Caron was arrested in January, with the grand jury’s indictment coming down last week.
She is now charged with aggravated sexual assault, which carries a penalty of 10 to 20 years in prison, in addition to sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, which each carry potential penalties of five to 10 years, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland announced.
The prosecutor’s office did not mention anything about the child in its press releases.
“These allegations are deeply disturbing, particularly given the position of trust the defendant held in relation to the victim,” Sutherland said.
“Our office remains committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who violate that trust,” he added.
