Benjamin Norton
Posted by Webmaster in High Schools, ME-FV, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Science TeachersBenjamin Norton, 46, a science teacher at Lodi High School, in Bergen County, New Jersey has been arrested on allegations that he got a then 16-year-old female drunk and had sexual intercourse with her during a school field trip in April 2003.
Following an investigation by Massachusetts State Police, Norton has been charged in Barnstable County, Massachusetts on charges of rape, indecent battery and assault and furnishing alcohol to a minor.
At the time of the alleged crimes, Norton was a science teacher at Lodi High School, in Bergen County, New Jersey. Norton had taught the alleged victim while she was a student and he a teacher at Ramapo High School, also in Bergen County, New Jersey.
Reportedly Norton had also tutored the girl privately.
It is reported that during the April, 2003 field trip to Cape Cod, a trip which included 10 students from Ramapo High and 30 students from Lodi High School, that other than one high school graduate chaperone, that Norton was the only adult on the trip.
According to the father of the alleged victim, now 20-years-old, she attends college and volunteers as a lecturer to help teenagers and young adults with addiction problems. The girl’s father says she kept the incident a secret until opening up about it during therapy years later.
Norton was freed on $2,500 bail following his arrest.
His next court hearing is scheduled for August 9th.
If convicted he faces up to 20 years in prison.
Norton’s lawyer, David Molk, calls the accusation “preposterous” and says “I feel very confident that he will be totally vindicated”.
Update 8/18/07:
According to Sharon Thibeault, assistant district attorney for the Cape and Islands District in Massachusetts, a Barnstable County grand jury has indicted Benajmin Norton on one count of rape, one count of providing alcohol to a minor and three counts of indecent assault and battery.
Norton who has remained free on $2,500 bail since his arrest faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the rape charge.
References:
Lodi teacher indicted on rape charge (8/18/07)
Lodi teacher charged with rape (8/01/07)
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Mr. Norton never spokes ciggerts. Actually, He told me that a few times when I was smoking them infront of the school. He said,” its disgusted him,” and that he didn’t like to see ciggert budds, on the floor. Anyways, he drove a car and a motocycle. I still see him around, but overall he was an awesome guy. They’re where some perverts teachers in Lodi High, but I never ever thought Mr.Norton was one of them, he never acted that way at all. I hope the truth will come out and IF this girl is lying I hope she will be punish for slandering Mr.Norton. I always thought he was a good guy.
I agree with iknowben about the comments by Bif
Knowing Benny since college in 1980 I have never seen him smoke or own a truck.
I see Ben often enough to know a few things and I hope our legal system will clear
up all the bs. Keep the faith Ben
Okay, Bif,
You observed? Hmm. Ben has never owned a truck (he drives a car,) and he doesn’t smoke (he hates cigarettes, in fact).
Gotta say I am familiar with both the teacher and the student and this is a tough call. I had the student in class and she was lazy, a MASTER manipulator and very good liar. She knew exactly how to get her way when she wanted it and lie her way out of things when she needed to. She did what she wanted and used her academic deficiencies as an excuse and her educational accommodations as a crutch.
All that being said Ben exhibited some unusual, very questionable behavior with students, particularly young females. For example, there were a few occasions where we observed him giving rides home in his truck to students after school. He did his best to try and hide it from other staff but we saw what he was doing. Innocent? Perhaps, but certainly unusual. Also, as head of the Environmental Club’s “Earth Day” celebration he thought it necessary to get a dunk tank and he had all of the female members of the club wear white t-shirts for their turn in the tank. Very questionable. Kids also mentioned how he would share a smoke with them while they were on field trips etc. Very unprofessional. The young lady in question had major psychological problems and even ran away from home which is how this incident happened. She thought she had no one else to turn to and called Ben to come and get her. That’s when the alleged incident occurred.
So who is telling the truth? Hard to say. Why would the girl wait years to finally come out and say something? TO please her father and explain away years of misbehavior…possibly but that’s a lot go through. Then again, Ben certainly did not help himself with all of the strange things he did with regard to young female students. He was definitely a bit too “chummy” with them for our vantage point.
Mr.Norton I am truly sorry this is happening to you.During my highschool years i wasnt living with my father .I was very rebellious towards the males in my family.I was angry they could be fathers and my dad couldnt.Circumstances called for my father to go back to our country for a few months that turned to years.both my brother and I had Mr.Norton. We always said he reminded us of dad because he was such a genuine individual w/ no malice in his demeanor .we hold our father highly and for anyone to remind us of dad is an honor.we enjoyed his presence and felt his aura.we loved his classroom.In that time of confusion,we would come home and talk about his jokes.about. we were priviledged to be taught by the philospher / great friend and teacher.But im sure the truth will prevail.
wow, he use to be my teacher, he was cool, …. wow
I have known Benny for over 20 years and I cannot believe the charges, He is a decent family man and friend and I would hope our legal system sees the truth behind this whole matter. There are always 2 sides to a story they say but the 3rd one is the one the matters THE TRUTH Ben, You have many friends and supporters behind you and will be there till this matter is settled . Keep the faith Ben !!
You have nothing to say Somebody says??? You know she is a lier!!!!
Well somebody says…. If you read the newspaper u will see that her father states she was a ex drug addict!!!!! Get your facts straight i no alot more about this then you do!!! And when someone is indicted the other person should appear in court!!! We will see in the end he will be cleared of all charges!!!!! Don’t worry Mr. Norton this girl is a lier the truth will come out!!!!
“Well someody says it does make sense because he was indicted without her appearing in court!!!!!!”
I don’t understand what point you are trying to make. I never said she did appear in court, why would she? I’m sure she had a signed statement or deposition of some sort. How do you know what other evidence was presented? You don’t. How do you know she is a drug addict? You don’t. How do you know she is lying? You don’t. All we know for a fact is that the grand jury was presented with evidence and that evidence was sufficient to warrant felony charges. Therefore it is certain that the evidence was substantial and not merely an inconsistent story from an unreliable source. Does that make sense to you?
Ask yourself what motivation a girl would have against her high school teacher THREE YEARS after the fact? Revenge for a bad grade? No, if that were the case it would stand to reason that she would present these allegations while still in his class, doesn’t it? What possible benefit would there be for her to present these allegations now that she is out of high school? THERE ARE NONE.
How do you send 40 students on a field trip with only one adult to supervise them all?This is just asking for problems.
And also somebody says…. I had a friend who was a drug addict she is now clean she was and still is the biggest lier!!!!! They make things up all the time and have to blame other people for them making stupid mistakes in there life!! Don’t believe a thing she is saying!!! Don’t worry Mr. Norton the truth will come out that this girl lied!!!!!
Well someody says it does make sense because he was indicted without her appearing in court!!!!!! I guess you dont no how the system works!!! All it is her statement and remember she is a drug addict!!! I do understand how a grand jury works looks like you don’t!!!
Alice – You make absolutely no sense.
Your first statement says that since you know this guy personally you know that this student would have come forward immediately if this was true. WHAT!?!?
First of all, if you knew anything about these types of crimes you would know for a fact that it is absolutely normal for victims not to come forward immediately. Sometimes it is months and even several years later before these crimes are reported. You will see dozens of examples of this happening on this very website.
Second, why does the victim of a crime need to hire a lawyer? This isn’t a civil matter, it is a criminal matter. Criminal matters are prosecuted by PROSECUTORS. If someone breaks into your home and steals your things do you call a lawyer? No, you call the police who conduct an investigation, make an arrest and then hand the matter over to the district attorney’s office who handles the case.
Third, do you understand how a grand jury works? A grand jury is presented with evidence and decides whether or not their is sufficient cause to hand down an indictment. If the only evidence was an inconsistent, unbelievable story as you would suggest then there would be no indictment. As it is, there was likely corroborating evidence that lead the grand jury to indict this man for these crimes.