Ex-Teacher Sentenced For Making Upskirt Videos Of Students: Cops

A former chemistry teacher in Burlington County has been sentenced to five years in New Jersey state prison after admitting to making upskirt videos of female students in his class and the hallways of Lenape High School, authorities said.

Eric Howell, 44, of Maple Shade, previously pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. The sentence was handed down in Superior Court by the Hon. James J. Morley, J.S.C. on Wednesday, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced.

Howell, who was hired to teach at Lenape in 2016, had been accused of putting a coconut water box with a hidden camera inside it in the side portion of his briefcase. He would then unscrew the cap of the box and walk close to female students wearing skirts or loose fitting shorts in order to make videos and take pictures, police said.

He targeted three students, including one girl multiple times. On May 2, 2017, a person said they noticed Howell walking behind a student and positioning his briefcase under her skirt. That person told the school's administration, which then contacted police and banned Howell from school property and school events. He has since been fired.

Howell was arrested after a raid of his home by police. The ensuing investigation determined that Howell didn't share the videos he made with anyone, Coffina said.

“Parents and students have every right to expect that students will be safe from any form of sexual misconduct while they are in school, particularly by their teachers,” Coffina said. “This defendant betrayed that sacred trust and rightfully is paying a significant price for his actions. I commend the students who immediately reported this behavior to the school administration once it had been observed, and the administration’s prompt action in response. The investigation into this matter was a direct result of the concern that was shown, and the action that was taken, to make sure that these criminal acts were addressed.”

The attached image of Eric Howell was provided by the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office