Gym teacher, 28, arrested on sex charges
The Hammonton News ^ | September 14, 2005 | Ben Meritt
Posted on 09/18/2005 1:44:04 PM PDT by magellan
HAMMONTON -- A Hammonton High School physical education/health teacher was arrested last Wednesday evening and charged with official misconduct and sexual crimes involving three male students, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jeffrey S. Blitz said.
Traci J. Tapp, 28, was arrested without incident at her home in Leon Court in the Atco section of Waterford Township by officers from the prosecutor's office and the Hammonton Police Department.
Tapp was charged with one count of sexual assault, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual contact and three counts of official misconduct.
She was arraigned before Superior Court Judge Michael Donio. She later posted $25,000 bond and was released, authorities said.
Tapp allegedly sexually fondled one 17-year-old male student whom she invited to her office in the girl's locker room at the high school between January and February 2001, according to the prosecutor's office.
She allegedly invited another 17-year-old boy to her home and both engaged in sexual acts at her direction between June 1 and June 30, 2001, Blitz said.
Tapp invited another 16-year-old male student to her home in 2003 and they engaged in multiple acts of sexual intercourse during one night, according to the prosecutor.
A mother of one of the victims brought the allegations to the attention of school officials in March. School officials then contacted Hammonton police, who began an investigation. The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Crimes Against Children Unit worked on a joint investigation with the Hammonton police. Crimes Against Children investigator Mary Elliot worked with Hammonton police Detective Joel Frederico and Officer Richard Jones under the supervision of Crimes Against Children Unit head Sgt. Alane Spencer, according to the prosecutor.
The Board of Education suspended Tapp with pay in March 2005 when the allegations came to light, Blitz said.
Police Chief Frank Ingemi said last week that the prosecutor's office took its time with the investigation, which lasted nearly six months, but believed that it may not be over.
"If a further investigation is needed, they'll advise us and we'll do what we have to do," Ingemi said. "I believe the whole situation may have to be looked at further. That decision is up to the prosecutor. When you do an investigation you want to make sure that it is complete. Maybe there are some more roads to go down with this."
Superintendent Mary Lou DeFrancisco issued a statement on behalf of the district on Thursday afternoon:
"We are working through the board solicitor for their advice and guidance," DeFrancisco said. She declined further comment.
Hammonton Board of Education President Loretta Rehmann said she was pleased there was some resolution in the matter, which had been lingering over the district for most of the year.
"We will follow the recommendations of our solicitor," Rehmann said of any job actions against Tapp.
At the high school Thursday afternoon, the girls soccer team, which was previously coached by Tapp, was running through drills in preparation for an upcoming game.
Asked about her former coach, senior Samantha Candario said, "I liked her as a coach. She did make us run a lot." As for Tapp's alleged actions, "I just don't think it was fair to the team."
Assistant coach Carey Speziali declined comment as per instruction from school administration and directed media away from the practice field.
Official misconduct and sexual assault are second-degree crimes that carry a five-to-10 year prison term upon conviction. Aggravated criminal sexual contact carries a three-to-five year prison sentence upon conviction, the prosecutor's office said.
Tapp was hired as a physical education/health education teacher at the high school in January 2001. She also served as head coach of the girls soccer team. She was a former soccer standout at Cherokee High School and later at the College of New Jersey in Trenton.
This is not the first time the Hammonton School District has had to deal with such a matter.
In 2003, bus driver Rodolfo Perez, 47, of Hammonton was sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually assaulting a teen on his school bus. He also provided alcohol to another teen at a New Year's Eve Party in 2001.
TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: newjersey; nj; sexoffender; teacher
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(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Always the same - suspended with pay - and us stupid tax payers permit it to happen.
Innocent until proven guilty.
Fine but suspend without pay.
You can thank the teachers' union.
Well, but she's only been charged. I suppose they could make her pay it back if she ends up being convicted. But, if she ended up being innocent (I don't think she will be) then would it be fair to take away her source of income. Really, kids do lie (as do adults).
susie
Yep...always the students interests first...NOT.
She will the same slap on the wrist as all the other female teachers recently in the news conducting themselves in this way. If it were a man...... whatever
There's no reason for public employees to be treated differently than private employees. Suspend without pay, if she's innocent she still has her job.
Iwant pictures.
no pictures?
These threads drive me nuts. WHERE were these teachers when I was 16??
Ditto...
My thoughts exactly.
The only one I can find. She's the blonde. It's from her college days.
I wonder if there is some way I can get back in high school?
No wonder he squealed, with a pig like that!
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