Prosecutor: Williamstown teacher charged with sexually assaulting student

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Published:

July 24, 2020

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Paul VanHouten, a science teacher at Williamstown Middle School, has been criminally charged by the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office with official misconduct, sexual assault, and endangering the welfare of a child after a five-month long investigation assisted by both the Monroe Township Police Department and the Monroe Township School District.  

VanHouten has been a teacher in the Monroe Township School District since 1989. VanHouten surrendered at the Monroe Township Police Department on July 24 and was lodged in the Salem County Correctional Facility pending a court date. The allegations against VanHouten were reported to law enforcement by the victim’s mother. VanHouten was suspended with pay by the district on Feb. 28. 

According to the charges, VanHouten, in a supervisory role, did sexually assault a 12-year-old student specifically by touching her breasts over the clothes after following her into a storage closet in the classroom. Following the assault, he threatened that if she told, he would fail her in class.  

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of their rights as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State Law.

If anyone believes their child may also be a victim related to this investigation, they are asked to contact Detective Brian Lloyd of the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit at (856) 384-5581.