New Jersey teacher accused of taping elementary student’s head to desk

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A teacher and a teacher’s aide were arrested and charged with child endangerment after they allegedly taped a student’s neck to his desk for nearly an hour.

Conformable Pompton Lakes authoritiesNew Jersey, the investigation began Oct. 31 when a 9-year-old boy at an elementary school disclosed that earlier this month, teacher Todd Lewis put masking tape around his neck and pinned his head to a desk. The student said he was glued to his desk for about 40-50 minutes while a teacher’s aide, Sallyann Scala, was present and did not intervene.

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Lewis, 57, was charged with one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Scala was charged with fourth-degree abuse and child neglect.

Lewis was released on home monitoring and Scala was issued a summons to appear.

If convicted, Lewis faces five to 10 years in prison. Scala faces up to 18 months in prison.

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In a statement to nj.comthe school district’s superintendent said both employees have been placed on leave and banned from campus.

“We want to assure parents, students, staff and the school community that we are working very closely with law enforcement to ensure the safety and security of our students,” district Superintendent Paul Amoroso said in the statement.