Students charged in sexual assault

MONROE TOWNSHIP — Two male Monroe Township High School students are slated to appear in court next week on charges of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl on a school bus recently.

The juveniles, ages 15 and 16, were arrested on Jan. 23 after an investigation by the township police department and the sex crimes unit of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, authorities said. Both juveniles were charged with aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of the girl, a classmate. The 16-year-old was also charged with making terroristic threats, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The alleged incident was not a rape, but was still considered aggravated sexual assault, said James O’Neill, spokesman for the prosecutor’s office.

The girl’s family and a witness reported the incident to school authorities the following day, on Jan. 22, O’Neill said. School authorities notified the police, he said.

Superintendent of Schools Kenneth R. Hamilton posted a letter on the school district’s website regarding the matter.

“I want to assure you that students continue to be appropriately supervised by adults who have their best interest and safety at heart,” Hamilton said. “Our guidance counselors are on hand to provide any necessary services to students who may need to discuss this issue. Parents are encouraged to talk to their students about inappropriate conduct and civil responsibility for reporting.”

O’Neill said he could not discuss whether other students or the bus driver were on the bus when the incident occurred. “It’s still an ongoing investigation,” he said.

The 16-year-old male threatened the girl after the assault, O’Neill said, declining to be more specific.

Both youths were being held at the MiddlesexCounty Juvenile Detention Center in North Brunswick, pending further court action in the coming weeks.

Anyone with any information should call detectives Jason Grosser or Louis Winn at 732- 521-0222, or Investigator Daniel Ruschak at 732-745-3600.

— Patricia Miller