Teacher Accused Of Sex Assault On Student Released For Trial: Report

FREEHOLD, NJ — A Mercer County teacher, who lives in Point Pleasant Beach, has been released to await trial on sexual assault charges after she was found having sex with one of her students in a park in Monmouth County, according to a report.

Jessica Sawicki, 37, of Point Pleasant Beach, was ordered released Wednesday, the Asbury Park Press reported.

Her release was ordered by Superior Court Judge Richard W. English in spite of evidence presented that Sawicki admitted having had sex with the 17-year-old boy on five occasions and had been ordered by officials at Hamilton High School West to stay away from the boy, the report said.

Sawicki is on administrative leave from the school, authorities said when her arrest was announced April 9.

She has been charged with five counts of second-degree sexual assault and five counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago said.

Sawicki, who has been an English teacher at Hamilton High School West for at least seven years, is accused of sexually assaulting the student at the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area in Upper Freehold Township on multiple occasions, Santiago's office said.

Sawicki and her husband have a 5-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter, the Asbury Park Press report said.

The report said Sawicki met the boy when he was a sophomore, and repeatedly was warned to stay away from him after other staff members at Hamilton West saw inappropriate behavior, including Sawicki giving him gifts and favors in school.

The report said the two were found partially undressed by a New Jersey conservation officer in the back seat of the boy's car as Assunpink Lake in Upper Freehold Township on April 7, and that the investigation found the two had met there at least 10 times.