Ex-Teacher, Ocean City Lifeguard Surrenders Teaching Certificates

OCEAN CITY, NJ — A former Pleasantville teacher and Ocean City lifeguard has surrendered his teaching certificates following sexual assault allegations that led to him being sentenced for endangering the welfare of a child.

Jonathan Howell was issued an Order to Show Cause as to why his teaching certificates should not be revoked by the New Jersey Board of Examiners on Nov. 1, 2024. He had two mathematics teaching certificates issued in 2006 and 2007.

However, Howell presented a proposal where he "would agree to the relinquishment of his certificates with the force and effect of a revocation and all attendant consequences in an affidavit to that effect to the Board," the Board of Examiners said. They accepted the relinquishment at their Sept. 19 meeting.

Allegations against Howell were not shared by the Board of Examiners. But he was sentenced to four years probation in 2024 after admitting to endangering the welfare of a child. The investigation was initially launched after an Instagram account called "ocbp_predators" was created in April of 2021. Its bio says it shares "the untold stories of pedophiles, predators, and inappropriate behavior on the beaches of America’s Greatest Family Resort."

The page is filled with more than 150 anonymous posts sharing stories of sexual assault and harassment by Beach Patrol members to fellow employees and beachgoers. Read more: Prosecutors Probe Allegations Against Ocean City Beach Patrol

Howell was indicted on Jan. 21, 2023 on charges of first degree aggravated sexual assault, second degree sexual assault, second degree official misconduct and two counts of third degree endangering the welfare of a child. Read more: Probation For Ex-Ocean City Lifeguard In Teen Sex Assault: Prosecutor