Toms River Teacher Charged with Sexual Contact with Student

A 31-year-old Barnegat woman - who is a teacher in the Toms River Regional school system - has been charged with criminal sexual contact against a student, according to a press release.

Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford said in the press release that Erin T. Haskell, who teaches at Intermediate South in Beachwood, has been charged with having an inappropriate relationship with one of her students, a minor. Due to the student's age, the Prosecutor's Office did not disclose any other information about the student.

Haskell has been charged with aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and exhibiting obscene material to a minor. 

Toms River Regional School authorities have been informed of the charges, according to the Prosecutor's Office. 

Toms River Regional Schools Superintendent Frank Roselli said the district took action at the November executive meeting of the school board on the matter of Haskell's employment in the district. She is not teaching in the district while the investigation is underway, he said.

“We are aware of the allegations made regarding one of our teachers who taught at Intermediate South. The Board is aware of the allegations and took action at our last Board meeting on Nov. 20 assuring that said teacher would not be allowed to resume her teaching position pending the completion of the investigation by the Prosecutors Office," Roselli said in a prepared statement. "At this point in time we do not want to make any comments that might compromise the ongoing investigation."

According to the Prosecutor's Office, Haskell is expected to surrender herself to authorities. 

Haskell's attorney, Bradley Billhimer told Patch: "we are aware of the charges against Ms. Haskell, and we're making arrangements for her surrender in the near future."

Bail has been set at $300,000 with no ten percent option by Superior Court Judge Rochelle Gizinski. The provisions of “Nicole’s Law” apply, and Haskell is restrained from having any contact with the victim. 

The investigation is being conducted by Detective Melissa Matthews of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and Detective Sergeant Glen DeMarco of the Beachwood Police Department. Anyone with any information regarding this investigation is asked to call Det. Matthews at 732-929-2027, or Det. Sgt. DeMarco at 732-286-6000 Ext. 100.

The arrest followed an investigation by law enforcement officers from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, the Beachwood and Barnegat Police Departments and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department.