A teacher for the Head Start Community Program of Morris County in Morristown, NJ has been accused of sexually assaulting a toddler at the preschool. 35-year-old Thomas Meier faces charges of sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
On October 8, a coworker filed reports with staff and police after allegedly witnessing Meier sexually assaulting a 3-year-old student at the preschool. According to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, the coworker saw Meier “engaged in an act of sexual contact upon a 3-year-old child.” Police investigated and Meier was arrested on Sunday, October 13.
Authorities took Meier into custody at the Morris County Correctional Facility following an investigation by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, the Morris Township Police Detective Bureau, and the Mount Arlington Police Department.
The Head Start Community Program of Morris County offers free programs for vulnerable children and families, with locations in both Morristown and Dover.
Attorney commentator Guy D'Andrea is a former sex crimes prosecutor who now represents sex abuse victims and their families in civil lawsuits. Here are some thoughts from Brian on the legal options available to families affected by sexual abuse in preschools and daycares:
Preschools, daycares, and other childcare facilities have a legal duty to prioritize the safety of the children under their care above all else. Protecting these children from sexual predators is a key aspect of this legal duty. Unfortunately, these fields are often targeted by sexual predators who want to commit terrible crimes against children.
When a preschool employee is arrested for sexually abusing a student, it’s important to ask whether the abuse was preventable. Some of these sexual abuse cases only happen because the facility failed to meet their legal duty to protect their students. In such cases of negligence, the victims and their parents may have grounds for a lawsuit.
If you or your child is a survivor of sexual abuse at a preschool or daycare, you can learn more about your family’s legal options in a free consultation with an experienced preschool sexual abuse lawyer.
https://abc7ny.com/teacher-in-nj-charged-with-sexually-assaulting-3-year-old-/5615828/