(11/05/07 – Initial BBT Report)

Richard Koppenaal, 37, a math teacher at Sussex County Vo-Tech School, in Sparta, New Jersey has been arrested on allegations of having sexual contact and/or sexual relations with two male students.

Koppenaal is charged with one count of sexual assault and three counts of criminal sexual contact and following his arrest was held in the Sussex County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Reportedly Koppenaal is accused of having sexual contact with two students from the school between October 2006 and October 2007 and with committing acts of sexual assault involving penetration with one of his students in September and October 2007.

At a court appearance Monday Superior Court Judge N. Peter Conforti maintained the bail amount of $100,000 and ordered as conditions of bail that Koppenaal to have no contact with the alleged victims or any Sussex Tech students and to stay away from the high school’s grounds.

Koppenaal who has worked at the school for four years has been suspended with pay. He was the Student Council advisor, a sophomore class co-adviser and a “teacher leader” who analyzed test scores, data, and other aspects of the high school.

Richard Koppenaal is the second Sussex County teacher accused of having sexual relations with a student this year. James Cunneely is facing multiple charges alleging the sexual abuse of a female student.

Koppenaal is set for arraignment on December 10.

11/16/17 Koppenaal Released on Bail and Suspended By School

Sussex County Technical School Board on Thursday approved the suspension with pay of Richard Koppenall.

Koppenaal has been released from the Sussex County Jail after posting $75,000 bail. Conditions of release specify that he must have no contact with Sussex Tech students, the campus and the alleged victims.

One of the alleged victims has told police that he and Koppenaal used a room at the Econo Lodge on Route 206 in Andover Township for sexual encounters. Allegedly police have received from the Econo Lodge a registration card with Koppenaal’s name, address and license plate number and the room number he was given. A log sheet shows he paid $89.95 for the room on September 28.

Reportedly the two alleged victims are between ages 16 and 18 and the first boy led detectives to the second.

09/15/08 – Not Guilty Pleas

Richard Koppenaal appeared in court today for arraignment and entered not guilty pleas to all charges.

Koppenaal, who faces up to 62 years in prison if convicted on all charges, has reportedly declined a plea offer from prosecutors who now say there is no new plea deal in the works.

Koppenall remains free on $100,000 bond.

References:

Sussex County teacher denies student sex charges (09/15/08)

Sussex Tech suspends teacher (11/16/07)

Sussex vo-tech teacher accused of sexual contact (11/06/07)

Sussex Tech teacher accused of sexual abuse (11/06/07)

Cops: Sussex teacher had sex with pupils (11/05/07)

Sussex Tech teacher accused of sexual assault (11/05/07)

5/25/07 – Initial BBT Report)

James Cunneely, a 31-year-old, French and Spanish teacher as well as junior varsity girls soccer coach at Kittatinny Regional High School, in Newton, New Jersey has been indicted on multiple counts for the sexual abuse of a 15-year-old female student.

Cunneely, a teacher at the school for seven years, was the Kittatinny Regional High School “Teacher of the Year” during the 2005 school year. Cunneely received a glowing acknowledgment from the New Jersey Department of Eduction for his teacher of the year award.

World Language teacher, Mr. James Cunneely, was chosen as the 2005 Kittatinny Regional High School Teacher of the Year. Jim is also lead teacher of the World Languages Department, acts as mentor to new employees, serves as National Honor Society advisor while teaching all levels of French including Advanced Placement.

Cunneely, who is reportedly married with three small children, has been indicted on one count of first-degree sexual assault and three counts of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact for the sexual relationship with the girl, when is alleged to have taken place between September, 2005 and February, 2007 during which the teacher and student allegedly engaged in numerous sexual encounters in various locations including motel rooms, in Cunneely’s vehicle, in the girl’s bedroom and even in her mother’s bedroom.

Following his indictment the Kittatinny School Board once again voted to discontinue James Cunneely’s pay during his suspension while criminal charges are pending. Following Cunneely’s February arrest he was first suspended without pay, then the board revised itself restoring his pay and now has once again suspended his reported $55,000 annual salary. This of course leaves one to wonder if they will restore Cunneely’s pay next month.

Cunneely was released on $75,000 bond and is to have no contact with the victim, no unsupervised contact with juvenile girls, and must stay at least 1,000 feet away from the victim and the school.

6/19/07 – Arraignment

At his arraignment Cunneely entered a not guilty plea and also obtained a modification of his bail conditions which will permit him to visit with this two young daughters. Previously his bail conditions specified “no-unsupervised contact with juvenile girls”, which authorities took to mean he was not permitted to have contact with his own daughters. The prosecution did not object to the change in Cunneely’s bail conditions.

He remains free on $75,000 bail.

10/15/07 – Motion to Suppress

The defense attorney for James Cunneely, 31, says he has filed a motion to suppress his client’s admissions of sex with the girl at motels, in his car and at her home.

Reportedly, plea negotiations in the case have now stalled.

12/11/07 – Guilty Plea

James Cunneely has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old female student.

Cunneely originally charged with one count of first-degree sexual assault and three counts of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact pleaded guilty to second degree sexual assault. As a result of the plea deal, prosecutors will recommend he be sentenced to three years in state prison. Under the original charge Cunneely faced up twenty years in prison.

Formal sentencing is set for February 15th.

3/28/08 – Sentencing Delayed

The sentencing of James Cunneely was scheduled for today, however it was postponed until to April 10.

The delay is gives Cunneely time to decide whether to stick with his guilty plea and face a possible three-year prison sentence, or withdraw the plea and take the case to trial, risking a 20 year sentenced.

The delay in sentencing was the result of the victim unexpectedly submitting a last-minute letter that may help clear the teacher, Cunneely’s attorney said.

04/17/08 – Sentencing

James Cunneely has been sentenced to three years in prison.

With credit for 98 days of time served in the Sussex County Jail, Cunneely will be eligible for parole within nine to 11 months according to his attorney.

In addition to his prison time Cunneely is required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law and will undergo parole supervision for life.

References:

Former Kittatinny High teacher sentenced in sex case (04/17/08)

Cunneely sentenced to three years in prison (04/17/08)

Former teacher gets 3-year prison term for sex with student (04/17/08)

Girl’s letter may help teacher in Sussex sex-assault case (3/28/08)

Kittatinny teacher admits to sex assault (12/12/07)

Kittatinny Regional High School teacher pleads guilty to sexual assault (12/11/07)

Kittatinny teacher
wants student sex confession tossed (10/15/07)

Teacher pleads not guilty in sex case

Indicted Kittatinny teacher loses pay

Kittatiny Regional High School web site

New Jersey Department of Education announcement