FAIR LAWN, N.J. — A former school district employee from Midland Park was arrested Wednesday on multiple charges after allegedly committing lewd acts inside Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Fair Lawn, authorities said.
According to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, 33-year-old John C. Stewart was charged with sexual assault by sexual contact, endangering the welfare of a child, burglary, aggravated criminal sexual contact, criminal sexual contact, lewdness, trespassing, and disorderly conduct.
The Fair Lawn Police Department alerted county prosecutors on Tuesday after discovering evidence of an incident that took place earlier this month on school property. Investigators said Stewart entered the building on two separate occasions and masturbated in different areas of the school.
Detectives said that on one of the dates, children were present in the building for a summer activity. Authorities noted there is no current evidence Stewart directly approached any of the children.
“Stewart was arrested in Paramus and charged as a result of the investigation thus far,” the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement.
Officials confirmed that the sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual contact charges relate to the alleged acts of masturbation inside the school. Stewart is being held at the Bergen County Jail pending a court appearance in Hackensack.
The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at (201) 226-5532.
A former school employee was jailed after investigators say he committed lewd acts inside a Bergen County middle school while children were present.