Lawrenceville’s Notre Dame HS Removes Staff After Charges Of Sexual Contact With Student

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — Notre Dame High School has removed a staff member from their duties following an investigation into sexual misconduct against one of its students, school President Kenneth Jennings said in a letter to the school community Thursday.

In the letter, Jennings said the school had been informed by law enforcement of the investigation and that the alleged incident took place off campus and outside school hours.

"The Notre Dame employee has been relieved of their duties," Jennings wrote. He said the school is in direct communication with local and county agencies and has pledged full cooperation, adding that the school could not comment further on an active investigation.

" Our primary concern continues to be the safety and well-being of all of our students, and we ask the members of our community to join us in praying for all those impacted by these troubling developments,” Jennings said.

The letter follows the arrest of Antoine A. Hart, a 53-year-old Lawrenceville resident and Notre Dame guidance counselor, on charges of child endangerment and aggravated criminal sexual contact.

Hart was arrested Wednesday and is being held at the Mercer County Corrections Center pending a court appearance.

A 14-year-old Notre Dame student told police Hart drove her to the Mercer County Community College campus in West Windsor earlier this month, where he committed acts of sexual contact against her inside his vehicle. Investigators also determined that Hart had sent suggestive text messages to the student.

The case was investigated jointly by the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit, the Lawrence Township Police Department and the West Windsor Police Department.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact Special Victims Unit Sgt. Sherika Salmon at 609-960-3119 or Det. Michael Wherley at 609-989-6187.

Notre Dame is a private Catholic high school in Lawrenceville. The school said it would keep parents informed as additional information becomes available.

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