Former Summit Teacher Indicted For Sexually Assaulting Young Students

SUMMIT, NJ — A former teacher and theater director at a Summit middle school was indicted on thirteen counts for sexual crimes against several of his students last Friday, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel and Acting Summit Police Chief Steven Zagorski jointly announced Wednesday.

Ronald E. Wells, 70, of Summit has been accused of committing sexual offenses against six male students between 2003 and 2017, all of them between the ages of 12 and 14.

Wells was charged with one count of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, two counts of second-degree sexual assault, four counts of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact and six counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

A joint investigation by the Summit Police Department and the Union County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit began in June of 2021 when a former student reported to Summit Police that he had been assaulted by Wells in 2016 in a private third-floor room of Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School, according Assistant Prosecutor Caroline Lawlor.

Well was charged soon after this accusation. During the ensuing investigation, several other victims came forward to the Summit Police alleging acts by Wells dating back as far as 2003.

Read more: Retired Summit School Theater Director Charged With Sex Crimes

According to prosecutors, Wells is currently on pre-trial release pending his post-indictment arraignment before Union County Superior Court Judge Robert A. Kirsch on Monday, April 18.

Anyone with information about this or similar incidents involving Wells is urged to contact Summit Police Department Captain Ryan Peters at 908-277-9380.