Teacher Under Fire After Allegedly Taping 9-Year-Old to Desk

(DailyVantage.com) – A New Jersey elementary school teacher has been arrested after allegedly taping a nine-year-old boy to his desk for nearly an hour, while a classroom aide reportedly failed to intervene.

According to the Pompton Lakes Police Department, Todd Lewis, a 57-year-old teacher at Lenox Elementary School, used masking tape to secure the child’s neck to his desk for approximately 40 to 50 minutes in October. Sallyann Scala, a 67-year-old teacher’s aide present during the incident, is accused of not stepping in to stop the mistreatment.

Lewis has been charged with one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, a serious offense that carries a potential prison sentence of five to ten years if convicted. Scala faces a charge of fourth-degree abuse and neglect of children, which could result in up to 18 months behind bars.

Lewis appeared for judicial processing on Thursday after being served with a warrant the day before. He was released pending trial but is subject to monitoring and special conditions, including no contact with children. Scala was issued a summons complaint on Wednesday.

Both Lewis and Scala have been placed on leave by the school district and are prohibited from entering school grounds while the case unfolds.

“We want to assure our parents, students, staff, and school community that we are working very closely with law enforcement to guarantee the safety and security of our students,” Superintendent Paul Amoroso said in a statement to nj.com.

The incident has shocked the local community, raising concerns about the behavior of educators and the systems in place to protect children. Parents and residents await further details as the legal process continues.

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