An ex-teacher from Parsippany NJ had his teaching credentials suspended while waiting for resolution in a pending sexual assault case against him.
In 2010, 44-year-old Scott Van Hoven was arrested for allegedly having sexual relations with a 16-year-old student at John F. Kennedy High School in Paterson NJ, where Mr. Van Hoven was a music teacher.
Mr. Van Hoven has been accused of engaging in a sexual relationship that included having sexual relations with the victim at his home in Parsippany and in his office on school premises.
The official charges against Mr. Van Hoven are sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, endangering the welfare of a child, and official misconduct.
Earlier this year, Mr. Van Hoven’s attorney sought a dismissal of the indictment because, he argued, Mr. Van Hoven did not actually have supervisory responsibility over the girl. However, a Morris County Superior Court judge rejected the petition for appeal because Mr. Van Hoven’s position as a teacher at the school guaranteed him a supervisory role, regardless of whether he was actually teaching the student in question.
Recently, the NJ State Board of Examiners suspended Mr. Van Hoven’s teaching credentials until the criminal matter is resolved. The board also said that a conviction will result in Mr. Van Hoven being banned from public employment.
Mr. Van Hoven is staring at a lengthy period of incarceration, with a conviction for sexual assault carrying a minimum sentence of five (5) years in New Jersey State Prison. Additionally, under the No Early Release Act (NERA), Mr. Van Hoven would be required to serve at least 85% of any sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Beyond that, a conviction for sexual assault would subject Mr. Van Hoven to community supervision for life, a requirement to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law, and a psychosexual evaluation (also known as an “Avenel evaluation”).
Since he posted bail, Mr. Van Hoven has been living in upstate New York
To learn more about this case, read the NJ.com article entitled “State Suspends Credentials for Ex-Teacher Accused of Sexually Assaulting 16-Year-Old Girl.”
