Former Teacher Sentenced for Sex Assaults of Minor Students at Schools in Montville and Butler

Published on January 20, 2017

Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Montville Police Chief Chief Rudolph Appelmann announce that Jason Fennes, 42, of Bloomfield, was sentenced today by Superior Court Judge Stephen J. Taylor to 14 years in State Prison, subject to the No Early Release Act, Parole Supervision for Life and Megan's Law.(JPG, 191KB)

Fennes pleaded guilty on Sept. 22, 2016 to two counts of first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assaul and three counts of second-degree Sexual Assault.

The crimes came to light in December 2011 when a 13-year-old female reported she had been sexually abused by the defendant when she was a student in his first grade class at the William Mason School in Montville. Fennes was arrested on this charge on March 2, 2012. Thereafter, three additional victims disclosed they had been sexually assaulted while students in his first grade class at William Mason School. The assaults on the victims at the William Mason School occurred between 2005 and 2008.(JPG, 10KB)

A fourth victim also came forward and reported she had been sexually assaulted by Fennes when she was 14 years old and the defendant was her track coach at Butler High School during the 1996-1997 school year.

At the time of the plea, Fennes admitted in court to acts of sexual penetration with two victims and acts of sexual contact with the remaining three. All acts occurred while he was in a supervisory position, either as a track coach or a teacher.

Fennes also has pled guilty in Somerset County to a separate count of Sexual Assault upon a child. He is pending sentencing on that matter, which is being prosecuted by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office.

Supervising Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Meg Rodriguez represented the State in these proceedings.

Prosecutor Knapp would like to thank the Montville Police Department, specifically Captain Andrew Caggiano and Sergeant Christopher Keezer, as well as the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit for their combined efforts in this matter.

The Morris County Prosecutor's Office encourages anyone with additional information related to these allegations and/or this Defendant to contact Lieutenant Steven Brylinski of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit at 973.285.6200.

Any inquiries can be directed to Agent Paul Merkler at 973-285-6215 or pmerkler@co.morris.nj.us.