PHILLIPSBURG, NJ – Kenneth Lutz, a 54-year-old former teacher at Lopatcong Elementary School in Phillipsburg, has been charged with sexually assaulting a child between 1998 and 1999, when the student was aged 12 and 13. The charges were announced by Warren County Prosecutor Jim Pfeiffer.
Lutz, who has also worked at two other New Jersey schools, is currently the assistant principal at Merriam Avenue Elementary School in Newton. He faces one count each of aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault by contact. If convicted, he could serve up to 20 years in prison.
He is currently being held at Warren County Jail.
Newtown Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Joseph Piccirillo said in a statement that he could not comment don’t he charges against Lutz, but confirmed the arrest.
“Unfortunately, I am not able to share the details of this situation considering that it is both a personnel matter and an ongoing police matter,” Piccirillo said. “Having said this, I will share that the crime for which the staff member has been charged occurred over two decades ago and while the staff member was employed in another district. There have been no known accusations during this staff member’s tenure in the Newton Schools.”
Lutz was placed on leave according to Piccirillo.
The search for a new principal will begin immediately, he added.