A New Jersey high school teacher has been arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting a student and giving them “controlled dangerous substances” three years ago.
NJ.com reports Christine Knudsen, a 44-year-old graphics arts teacher at Fair Lawn High School, has been charged with second-degree sexual assault by a supervisor of a person under age 16, plus two counts of second-degree endangering by a caretaker. The Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit of the state’s Department of Children and Family learned Knudsen allegedly engaged in sexual activity with a student at her school.
The educator is also accused of “providing and ingesting controlled dangerous substances” with the student.
The victim’s age and gender have not been released, although the charge does indicate they were under 16.
Superintendent Nicholas J. Norcia said in an email to parents that “a current Fair Lawn High School teacher was arrested and charged with allegations of inappropriate contact with a former student.” Norcia added that the incident reportedly happened “several years ago.”
“We do not understand there to be any allegations of current misconduct, and law enforcement has made clear that it does not consider any current students at risk of harm, in any way,” Norcia said. “As with all matters involving law enforcement, our school district has and will continue to fully cooperate.”
Christine Knudsen is being held at the Bergen County Jail pending a pre-trial hearing. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office is handling the investigation.
