School Says Teacher Accused of Masturbating in Car Had Clean Record

The teacher formerly employed by two separate Morris County private schools was never known to have performed a lewd act despite his arrest Tuesday for masturbating in a car while watching children at a bus stop.

John Watson, 33, of North Brunswick, who resigned his post as a music teacher at Morris Catholic High School Tuesday, was a teacher at The Peck School in Morristown from 2008 to 2014 according to his LinkedIn profile page.

After Watson was arrested by Denville police Tuesday for allegedly masturbating in the back of a car parked in the lot of a bank on Rt. 53 while watching school children at a bus stop, he resigned from Morris Catholic High School where he began working this year.

According to nj.com, a letter to parents of students of the Peck School was distributed this week, written by head of school Andrew C. Delinsky. The letter, in part, states, “As you may have seen in the news, a former Peck teacher, Mr. John Watson, was reportedly arrested on Tuesday for alleged lewd behavior. At this point, we know nothing beyond what has been reported in the news, and it is important to state that we have no knowledge of any unlawful behavior while Mr. Watson was at Peck.”

The Peck School is a private, K-8 institution founded in 1893 and enrolled a total of 339 students in 2013-14. The school has no religious affiliation and requires a tuition of between $27,000 and $31,000 annually.

Watson separated from the school over the summer, nj.com reported. It is alleged that Watson committed the lewd act three other times between September and Tuesday’s incident.

Delinksy’s letter went on to calm any fears or anxiety the school community may be experiencing.

“Moving forward, our immediate concern is ensuring our students are supported and that their questions and concerns are heard,” nj.com reported the letter stating. Delinsky said faculty members at the school would be available if students wished to speak to them, and made himself available to parents as well, the report said.

Watson also owns a production company, John Watson Productions, which he used to privately tutor students in a variety of musical instruments.