#NJ teacher accused of sexually assaulting teen who lived with him

A New Jersey middle school teacher is accused of sexually assaulting a teen while she lived with him and his wife – who suspected the abuse, court records show.

Harry Wyatt, a 53-year-old math teacher at Leonard V. Moore Middle School in Roselle, was arrested Thursday on charges of sexual assault, criminal sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and Piscataway police.

Wyatt, who allegedly assaulted a teen who was “known to him,” appeared in court Tuesday, where his attorney, Emery Toth, said the teacher and his wife allowed the girl – who is now 17 – to move into their Piscataway home about five years ago due to a strained relationship with her parents, NJ.com reported, citing court records.

Wyatt’s wife became suspicious of the pair and suspected they were having sex after reading text messages sent between Wyatt and the teen, NJ.com reported.

The teen told police investigators during an interview she first had sexual contact with Wyatt when she was 16 – and as recently as earlier this month, court records show.

Wyatt, who does not have a criminal record, was released from custody after Tuesday’s detention hearing, MyCentralJersey.com reported. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf, Toth said.

The website for Leonard V. Moore Middle School listed Wyatt as a sixth-grade math teacher, the outlet reported, but no information related to him was available on the site early Wednesday.

Wyatt is due back in court on Jan. 25, Toth said. A judge ordered him not to have any contact with the girl, as well as being unsupervised with other minors, including students, NJ.com reported.

District officials, meanwhile, declined to comment on Wyatt’s arrest and his current employment status, citing a “strict policy of confidentiality” pertaining to personnel matters.

“Nevertheless, please rest assured that the district will cooperate with law enforcement if called upon to do so,” Roselle School District Superintendent Nathan Fisher said in a statement to The Post.