Former Morris County Coach Accused of Having Sex With Athlete, 14

A former Montville first-grade teacher who has been jailed on charges he allegedly sexually assaulted two of his students has now been accused of having a sexual relationship with a track athlete he coached at the school in the mid-'90s and sexually assaulting two other students, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said Saturday.

According to a statement released by Capt. Jeffrey Paul, a spokesman for Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, three more victims recently came forward, accusing Jason Fennes, 37, of Bloomfield, of sexual assault.

One victim alleged she and Fennes began having a sexual relationship when she was 14 and he was her high school track coach.

Fennes was employed by the Butler Board of Education as a track coach at Butler High from the fall of 1996 until he resigned on April 15, 1997, the prosecutor's office said.

Fennes was charged on Thursday with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child for the alleged relationship that lasted "several years," according to an arrest affidavit on file with the Morris County Court.

Fennes was also charged on Thursday with two counts of second-degree sexual assault of a child less than 13 years of age and two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly assaulting two Montville first-grade students he taught during the 2006-07 school year.

Judge David H. Ironson has set a blanket bail of $500,000 with no 10 percent option.

The latest victims came forward after hearing about the previous sexual assault allegations made in March against Fennes, the prosecutor's office said.

Fennes, a former Montville first-grade teacher at the , was arrested on March 8 on . According to an affidavit filed with the Morris County Court, an investigation revealed Fennes allegedly sexually abused a girl in his first-grade class in 2005.

Fennes was released from jail on bail, but on March 12 a second student in his class during the 2006-07 school year.

Fennes worked in the Montville School District from September 1998 until he resigned in June 2010, according to district Superintendent Dr. Paul Fried.

Fennes has been remanded to the Morris County Correctional facility since the March 12 arrest.

Anyone with information regarding Fennes should contact the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes Unit at 973-285-6200 or the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Stopper Program at 973-COPCALL.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the victim was 15 years old when the alleged sexual relationship began, based on information provided by the prosecutor's office. However, the victim was 14. An earlier version also inccorrectly stated Fennes was employed as a teacher at Butler High, based on information provided by the prosecutor's office. However, Fennes was only employed as the school's track coach.