Parsippany Hill High School Teacher Charged With Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Criminal Sexual Contact

Published on June 08, 2013

Acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Parsippany Police Chief Paul Philipps announce today that Jenna Leahey, 32 years old, of Morristown, N.J. has been charged with two counts Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a crime of the second degree and two counts Criminal Sexual Contact, a crime of the fourth degree for acts involving a 16 year old male.

Defendant is a teacher at Parsippany Hills High School who allegedly became involved in a sexual relationship with a 16 year old student. The relationship started in late January 2013 when the defendant began exchanging sexually explicit text messages with the victim and later sent sexually explicit pictures of herself to him. The relationship allegedly progressed physically to acts of kissing and mutual sexual contact and continued through June 6, 2013. These acts occurred on and off school grounds. The victim disclosed the relationship to a staff member at the school. The school is cooperating with the investigation.

The Honorable Thomas V. Manahan, J.S.C. set bail at $100,000 no 10%, cash, bond or property. As conditions of bail the defendant is to have no contact with the victim and no unsupervised contact with children under 18.

The investigation is on-going. Please contact the Parsippany Troy Hills Police Department Detective Bureau at (973) 263-4300 or the Morris County Prosecutors Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit at (973) 285-6200 if you have any relevant information.

Acting Prosecutor Knapp would like to thank Detective Edward Mitreuter of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit and Detective Keith Duffy of the Parsippany Troy Hills Police Department whose efforts contributed to this arrest.

If convicted of the above charges, the defendant faces a maximum potential custodial sentence of approximately 20 years, subject to Parole Supervision for Life and Megan's Law.

Despite these pending charges, every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Any inquiries can be directed to First Assistant Morris County Prosecutor/SDAG Thomas Zelante at 973-285-6252 or tzelante@co.morris.nj.us.