CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, N.J. — A 34-year-old elementary school teacher in Middle Township has been arrested on multiple charges, including aggravated sexual assault, following an investigation into an alleged sexual relationship with a student.
Laura Caron, a 5th-grade teacher at Middle Township Elementary School, was taken into custody without incident on Wednesday by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Middle Township Police Department.
According to the criminal complaint, the investigation began in December when the alleged victim’s father posted on Facebook, suggesting that Caron’s 5-year-old child resembled both himself and his son.
The complaint states that the former student, now 19, later confirmed in a text message and a phone call to family members that he is the biological father of Caron’s child.
On January 15, 2025, Caron was arrested without incident by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, Middle Township Police Department, and the Special Victims Unit. A court-authorized search warrant was also executed at her residence.
Authorities allege that between 2016 and 2020, Caron engaged in a sexual relationship with a student born in 2005 who was living in her home during that period.
Following her arrest, law enforcement executed a court-authorized search warrant at Caron’s residence as part of the ongoing investigation.
Caron faces charges of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. She is currently being held at the Cape May County Correctional Facility pending her initial court appearance.
“These allegations represent a deeply troubling breach of trust,” Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland said in a statement. “We will work tirelessly to ensure justice is served and to support the victim and their family throughout this process.”
Middle Township Police Chief Tracey Super emphasized the department’s commitment to the community, stating, “Parents and guardians place immense trust in educators, and when that trust is violated, it impacts everyone.”
The Middle Township School District has been notified of the arrest and is cooperating with authorities. Counseling and support services are being provided to students, staff, and families affected by the situation.
Prosecutor Sutherland noted that first-degree crimes in New Jersey carry potential prison sentences of 10 to 20 years, while second-degree crimes can result in 5 to 10 years of incarceration.
The investigation remains active, and authorities are urging anyone with additional information to contact the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit at 609-465-1135 or submit tips anonymously through official channels.