Photo: Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office
A New Jersey special education teacher is accused of molesting one of her students, according to a local prosecutor.
Allison Havemann-Niedrach, 43, who worked at Freehold Intermediate School, was charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault and second-degree child welfare endangerment, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced on Saturday (June 29). Havemann-Niedrach was arrested last week after an MCPO Special Victims Bureau and Freehold Police Department investigation determined that she had allegedly started sexually abusing her student earlier in the year, according to Santiago.
MCPO didn't reveal how many times Havemann-Niedrach assaulted the student, nor when authorities were made aware of the alleged abuse. The student's age wasn't identified publicly, however, Freehold Intermediate School includes students between grades six and eight.
Havemann-Niedrach began working within the Freehold Borough School District in 2002 and described herself as a "passionate, results-driven and sincere educator" on her LinkedIn account, according to the New York Post. Freehold Borough School District superintendent Asia Michael confirmed that a "former staff member" had been arrested in an email notifying parents and staff of the incident, the Asbury Park Press reported.
“It is with a heavy heart that I must share some distressing news with you,” the email stated. “We have been informed that a former staff member has been arrested on allegations of third-degree aggravated sexual assault and inappropriate sexual conduct with a minor."
Havemann-Niedrach is incarcerated at the Monmouth County Jail and is scheduled to appear at a hearing to determine whether she'll remain detained while awaiting trial, authorities confirmed via the New York Post.