An elementary school teacher in New Jersey has been charged with sexual assault and child endangerment after she fathered a child with a student she is accused of abusing inside her home.
Laura Caron, 34, was arrested earlier this week on charges of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, and second-degree endangerment to the welfare of a child.
The charges stem from an allegation that she sexually assaulted a young boy from the age of 11 through 15 while he was living in her home. The assault allegedly happened between 2016 and 2020, according to a press release from Cape May County Prosecutor's Office.
In addition, Caron was also accused of having a child with her student. Their baby was born in 2019 when the student was 13 and Caron was 28.
How Did Caron Meet the 13-Year-Old Boy?
Authorities say the teacher met her victim and his brother when she taught them in the fifth grade at Middle Township Elementary School. She and the victim's family became friends. The children were initially allowed to stay with Caron each week until they began living permanently with her for a four-year period.
The case came to light after the victim's father made a social media post last December where he pondered how Caron's 5-year-old child looked very similar to his son.
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A subsequent investigation revealed that the victim's sister thought Caron and her brother had started sleeping in the same bed when he was 11. She also revealed that Caron would enter the bathroom and lock the door when her brother would shower.
Furthermore, authorities found that the victim admitted that he was the father of Caron's child in a text message to his sister.
Caron and the boy, who is now between 19 and 20 years old, remained in contact until the victim's father made the online post, per The Independent.
Charges Filed Against the NJ Elementary School Teacher
Caron was taken into custody "without incident" on Wednesday and is currently being held at the Cape May County Correctional Facility. She may face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of aggravated sexual assault and get an additional term of up to 10 years for the other charges.
She has been placed on paid administrative leave by the Middle Township School District, according to CBS Philadelphia.
