By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
A children’s entertainer was arrested Monday and charged with sexually assaulting a 16-year-old female student during his day job as a now fired theater teacher at the Hun School of Princeton.
Nolan Johnson, 39, was accused of having engaged in "inappropriate sexual behavior" multiple times with the girl on and off campus between June 10 and July 31 of this year, Princeton police said Monday in announcing the arrest. Police said the school earlier this month had provided them with information about matter, and that detectives from their office and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office subsequently investigated.
Hun School Headmaster Jonathan Brougham, calling Mr. Johnson’s alleged actions "deplorable," said in a statement Monday that he was let go after admitting to law enforcement that he had an "inappropriate relationship with a student."
Mr. Johnson was arrested at Princeton Police Headquarters at 11 a.m., police said. He had been in town at a treatment center for "different issues," police said.
Mr. Johnson, charged with three counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, was being held on $50,000 bail, said police Sgt. Steven Riccitello. He was due to be transferred to the county jail.
He was scheduled to have bail hearing today, Tuesday, in Mercer County Superior Court, said Prosecutor’s Office spokeswoman Casey A. DeBlasio.
Mr. Johnson had worked at Hun starting with the 2012-13 school year, the school said in August 2012 in announcing his hiring. Prior to that, he worked at the Newtown Friends School and Six Flags Great Adventure. He also performs as a children’s entertainer as the Cat in the Hat.
Mr. Johnson, a resident of Morrisville, Pa., is married and has two young children, the school had said.
The Hun School is an independent school for children grades six and up.
"We find Mr. Johnson’s actions, as described by police, deplorable and we are saddened by their inevitable impact. Our policies and expectations in this area are clear. And, under no circumstances will we tolerate a violation of the basic trust between teacher and student," Mr. Brougham said.
"Mr. Johnson was immediately dismissed after acknowledging to law enforcement officials an inappropriate relationship with a student. Earlier, the former theater teacher was placed on leave as soon as we learned of the misconduct and notified the police," he continued.
The school said it is cooperating with authorities in the "ongoing investigation." Police said they are aware of no other cases involving Mr. Johnson and other students at Hun.
Police asked anyone with information on the case to contact Detective Annette Henderson at 921-2100, ext. 1818.