A Lawrence Intermediate School teacher’s aide has been charged with two counts each of sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault and one count of endangering the welfare of a child in connection with an incident that occurred at the aide’s home in Ewing Township.
Joseph Miller, 52, who lives on Sullivan Way in Ewing Township, was arrested Nov. 10 by the Ewing Township Police Department, according to a press release issued by that police department. The incident occurred at Mr. Miller’s home over the summer.
A Ewing Township Police Department detective was contacted by the Lawrence Township Police Department and advised of a sexual assault on a school-aged child that was reported to them and that occurred in Ewing Township, according to Ewing police Lt. Rocco Maruca.
An investigation was conducted in conjunction with Det. Matt Norton of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and as a result of the investigation, Mr. Miller was charged with the offenses, Lt. Maruca said. He is being held on $400,000 bail at the Mercer County Corrections Center.
Mr. Miller is employed as a full-time special education assistant at LIS, which handles students in grades 4-6. He earns $25,435, according to Lawrence Township school district officials. He has been suspended with pay, and in addition, he will not have access to the Lawrence schools or its before- and after-school programs.
Mr. Miller passed the standard criminal background check that all Lawrence Township public school district employees must complete when he was hired, said Crystal Lovell, the superintendent of schools. If there had been an issue, he would not have been hired, she said.
Pointing to the recent Penn State University scandal, Dr. Lovell said it is “an unfortunate reminder” that when it comes to the safety and security of the children, “there is no room for error, no place for guesswork and no time to waste before doing what is right. As educators, we are obligated to protect our children from potential harm and danger.”
”We were recently notified by the Ewing Township police that Mr. Miller was arrested and charged (with the offenses),” she said. “Although the district cannot comment on the details of Mr. Miller’s arrest, none of the alleged (offenses) occurred during school hours, during school-sponsored events or on school property.”
Dr. Lovell said the information was released over this past Veterans Day holiday weekend when school was not in session, but the staff reached out to Lawrence families “to provide support and assistance as needed.”
School district counselors and child study team members will be available this week to speak with any staff member, student, parent of community member who needs assistance, she said.
And in a reference to the incident at the Lawrence Township Board of Education meeting Monday night, school board president Laura Waters emphasized the school district’s commitment to protect the children.
