(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)
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September 15th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
sometimes the people who plead not guilty-and know deep down that they are-and dont accept a plea deal might very well get more time-than the plea deal.i am not saying that is the case here.its just an observation.