CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – A Cape May County Grand Jury returned an indictment against Laura Caron, 34, with charges stemming from an alleged sexual relationship between the teacher and student who was in her care.
Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland announced the indictment came June 17.
Caron, of Cape May Court House, was indicted on the following charges: aggravated sexual assault, a crime of the first degree; sexual assault, a crime of the second degree; and endangering the welfare of a child, a crime of the second degree.
The charges stem from an extensive investigation conducted by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office and the Middle Township Police Department Major Crimes Unit, which alleged that between 2016 and 2020, the woman engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student who had been residing in her home during that time period. During this time period, she was employed as a fifth-grade teacher at the Middle Township Elementary School, according to the prosecutor.
“These allegations are deeply disturbing, particularly given the position of trust the defendant held in relation to the victim. Our office remains committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who violate that trust,” Sutherland said in a press release.
Under New Jersey law, individuals convicted of a first-degree crime are subject to a term of imprisonment of 10 to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison. Conviction of a second-degree crime may result in a term of 5 to 10 years in state prison.
Sutherland urged anyone who may have additional information relating to this investigation to contact the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit at (609) 465-1135, or anonymously through the Prosecutor’s Office website at cmcpo.tips as well as through the Cape May County Sheriffs Tip Line at cmcsherrif.net and click on anonymous tip, or through the Cape May County Crime Stoppers at (609) 889-3597.
Any charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless she is proven guilty.