N.J. elementary school counselor charged with sexually assaulting student, authorities say – NJ.com

A Newark Public Schools attendance counselor was arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting a student, authorities said.

James D. Rone-Lewis, 31, of Newark, was arrested last week and charged with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, according to a joint statement from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Newark Police Department.

Rone-Lewis is accused of bringing a student into his office at Avon Avenue Elementary School on or about Oct. 21 and touching the child’s penis, the office said. Attendance counsellors or school social workers consult with school personnel and parents/guardians, and examine patterns of irregular attendance.

Following his arrest, he was suspended without pay by the district and was barred from any contact with the child or the school, police said.

He was released on pretrial monitoring pending the disposition of the charges, the office said.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.