James Darden
(6/01/07 - Initial BBT Report)
James Darden, 36, of Cliffside Park, NJ and an eighth grade teacher at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Teaneck, NJ has been arrested on allegations that he had sexual relations with a female student.
It is alleged that the relationship started when the girl was 13-years-old and a student in Darden’s eighth grade class and ended when she was a high school sophomore.
The woman said that many of her trysts with Darden happened in various rooms within Thomas Jefferson Middle School, including Darden’s classroom, the men’s faculty bathroom and the office of the dean, according to the prosecutor. The woman also told authorities she had sexual relations with Darden in his car and his former residence in Plainfield, the prosecutor said.
It is also alleged that Darden urged the victim to perform sex acts on the internet, such as masturbating via a web-cam which Darden allegedly provided.
Darden is being held on $250,000 bond.
6/03/07 - More Information
A source with knowledge of the case said Darden made incriminating statements online with investigators impersonating the woman.
Darden, who has taught at Thomas Jefferson for 10 years, is known as a model teacher who holds his students to high standards. In 2005 he was awarded a $25,000 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award.
6/08/07 - More Charges
James Darden already facing allegations that he had sexual relations with one former female student, has now been charged with endangering the welfare of a child and official misconduct after a second former student comes forward.
The second alleged victim, now 18, told police that Darden made sexually explicit comments and kissed her intimately with “an open mouth” in 2002, when she was 13.
Darden was held on $250,000 bond on the original set of charges has now seen his bail increased to $500,000.
He remains held at the Bergen County Jail and has applied for a public defender.
6/12/07 - Bail Reduction
James Darden received a bail reduction today.
His bail which was originally set at $500,000 was reduced to $350,000.
At the bail hearing Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Liliana Silebi in opposing any bail reduction told a judge that Darden had admitted in an online chat to having sex several times with the alleged victim.
From NorthJersey.com
In his own words, typed by his own hands, he admits that he had sex with a minor multiple, multiple times.
Darden is alleged to have begun sexually abusing the girl when she was 13-years-old and a student in his eighth grade class with the abuse continuing until she was a sophomore in high school.
6/29/07 - Indicted
James Darden has been indicted by a grand jury on twenty counts alleging aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
Darden was indicted on charges of having sex with one of his students and kissing another.
Both of the alleged victims were 13-years-old at the time of the alleged offenses and were students in Darden’s eight-grade class.
Darden is being held in the Bergen County Jail on $350,000 bond.
12/17/07 - Guilty Plea
James Darden has pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated sexual assault and official misconduct and faces up to to 8½ years in prison when sentenced January 18th.
Prosecutors say that Darden admitted to the judge that he engaged in sexual intercourse with one of his students while she was between 13 and 15 years old and did so numerous times in his classroom and on school grounds while the girl’s parents believed Darden was tutoring her.
Darden must register as a sex offender and remain under lifelong parole supervision when he completes his sentence.
04/25/08 - Sentencing
James Darden has been sentenced to 8½ years in prison and lifelong parole for sexually assaulting a former student.
In addition Darden will be required to be registered as a sex offender for life, is required to surrender his teaching certificate and is prohibited from ever working in the public sector.
References:
Ex-Teaneck teacher sentenced (04/25/08)
Teaneck teacher admits sex with teen (12/17/07)
Charges filed against Teaneck teacher
Teaneck teacher’s bail down slightly
Teaneck teacher James Darden accused by another former student
N.J. Teacher Accused Of Sex With Teen Student
Teaneck teacher held on $250,00 bail
Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Press Release
May 21st, 2008 at 12:31 pm
i was going to respond to this silly little thing nr 18 on the list here .i think i know who this is-yet its unimportant.who actually cares what you think-most of us know better.every dog has his/her day/and so do you nr 18
May 11th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
HE DID IT HE EVEN SAID SO. HOW CAN YOU DENY THAT HE DID IT WHEN HE’S LIKE ” I DID IT !”. WTF IS WRONG W/ YOU PEOPLE. I MEAN COME ON I BET HE HAD LECTURES ABOUT SEX IN HIS CLASSROOM. GROW UP PEOPLE THIS IS THE (*******) REAL WORLD, NOT SOME FAIRY TALE (********) WITH GOOD GUYS AND BAD GUYS…
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April 9th, 2008 at 9:25 am
well it does not look like april 18 is going to be the day. justice in this country is hard to come by.please keep supporting mr darden.he does not deserve this kind of crap.
February 18th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
the way things look now-he is scheduled to to be sentenced april 18. i just think,he is being wrongly accused.please keep supporting james.
February 17th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
He is schedule to be sentenced sometime in April 2008. Thank you for supporting Mr. Darden
February 12th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Mr. Darden was supposed to be sentenced on January 18th. However, I have not heard anything regarding the sentencing. I am a former student of his and am very anxious to know what the outcome of all this is. Whether he did do this or not, although he admitted to it so it seems like he did, Mr. Darden was one, if not the best teachers I’ve ever had. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him and still use what he taught me on a daily basis. If anyone knows anything please respond. Thank you.
January 11th, 2008 at 6:02 am
“He Did It”…Just wondering how you know he had a sofa with stains and a big table. Were you there? Why don’t you tell us all just what his house looked like. I’m sure we’d love to know since you know so much about his stained sofa and big table.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:37 am
this is a reply 2 the last posting. very sad,you have no clue what you are talking about. and o i forgot ,talk is cheap. and in regard to mr darden? he is a wonderfull person and educator.-so stop bad mouthing him. i wish him all the best .
December 6th, 2007 at 10:59 am
He did it. He admitted it. Thats why he had a sofa with stains on it in his room. and a big table. he always talked about sex in class. and abortion, and rape.