Lawrence Schools Employee Charged with Sexual Assault of a Minor

A Lawrence Township Public School employee has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a child in his Ewing home, according to a report by The Times of Trenton.

Joseph Miller, 52, identified by The Times as a teacher’s aide at Lawrence Intermediate School, was arrested Thursday after Lawrence Police notified Ewing Police of a sexual assault report, The Times reported.

Miller is charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, according to a statement released Friday by Crystal Lovell, superintendent of Lawrence Township Public Schools.

Miller is being held on $400,000 bail, according to The Times, which also said that police did not release the child’s age or gender.

Miller has been suspended with pay and has no access to Lawrence Public schools, or before and after school programs, Lovell said.

“The recent Penn State scandal is an unfortunate reminder that when it comes to the safety and security of our children there is no room for error, no place for guesswork, and no time to waste before doing what is right,” Lovell wrote in her statement. “As educators, we are obligated to protect our children from potential harm and danger.”

Lovell said none of the alleged charges refer to incidents that happened during school hours, during school sponsored events or on school property.

“Counselors and child study team members will be available on Monday and throughout next week to speak with any staff member, student, parent or community member who needs assistance,” Lovell wrote. 

Ewing Police were not immediately available for comment.