NJ high school theater and music teacher charged with sexually assaulting teen student

A north New Jersey high school music and theater teacher has been accused of sexually assaulting a teenage student over a prolonged stretch of time.

Pequannock High School teacher William Arnold, 53, faces charges including first-degree aggravated sexual assault following an investigation launched last month by the Pequannock Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office after allegations of “inappropriate behavior” were reported by a fellow educator.

Arnold — who is a married dad of three, according to his social media profiles — sexually assaulted the female student on “multiple occasions” over the last year, according to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.

The alleged sexual abuse began when the girl was 15 years old and continued after she turned 16, the prosecutor’s office said.

The theater and music teacher just co-directed a musical rendition of “The Wedding Singer” before his Sept. 29 arrest. He was placed on “administrative leave” immediately after he was taken into custody.

“Please be assured that we are taking every step possible to protect your children, our staff, and our school community. If needed, our guidance counselors are available to all our students and families,” Pequannock Schools Superintendent Michael Portas told the school community in a letter obtained by NJ 1015.

Arnold’s charges include first-degree aggravated sexual assault, fourth-degree criminal sexual contact and second-degree counts of sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and official misconduct.

He’s incarcerated at the Morris County Correctional Facility.

Pequannock is a tony suburb with a population of around 15,000, located about 25 miles northwest of New York City.