A fifth grade teacher at Middle Township Elementary School has been charged with aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, law enforcement officials said on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Laura Caron, 34, of Cape May Court House, was taken into custody Jan. 15, according to a release from the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office.

The charges stem from an investigation revealing that between 2016 and 2020, Caron engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student, born in 2005, who had been residing in her home during that time, the release said.

On Jan. 15, the Prosecutor’s Office’s Special Victims Unit, along with the Middle Township Police Department’s Detective Unit, took the suspect into custody without incident. Subsequently, a search warrant was executed at Caron’s residence.

She is being held at the Cape May County Correctional Facility pending her initial court appearance.

Aggravated sexual assault is a crime of the first-degree; sexual assault, a crime of the second degree, and endangering the welfare of a child, a crime of the second degree. County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland said that individuals charged with a first-degree crime are, upon conviction, subject to a prison term of 10 to 20 years, and those charged with a second-degree crime, with five to 10 years.

Sutherland issued the following statement: “This arrest underscores the unwavering commitment of our office and law enforcement partners to protect the children in our community. Teachers hold a position of great trust, and the allegations in this case represent a deeply troubling breach of that trust. We will work tirelessly to ensure justice is served and to support the victim and their family throughout this process.”

Middle Township Police Chief Tracey Super also commented on the arrest, saying: “The welfare of our children is of the utmost importance, and we are fully dedicated to pursuing justice in cases like this. Parents and guardians place immense trust in educators, and when that trust is violated, it impacts everyone.

“I want to personally assure the parents of Middle Township that we are taking every step possible to ensure the safety of our children. Our department is working closely with the Prosecutor’s Office to ensure that every aspect of this case is thoroughly investigated. If there are others who may have relevant information, I urge them to come forward immediately. No piece of information is too small when it comes to protecting our community.”

In response to the incident, the Middle Township School District has been notified and is cooperating with law enforcement. Counseling and support services are being made available to students, staff and families who may be affected.

Sutherland urged anyone who may have additional information about this investigation to contact the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit at 609-465-1135, anonymously through the Prosecutor’s Office website at cmcpo.tips, through the Cape May County Sheriff’s Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net (click on anonymous tip), or through the Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-889-3597.