HAMMONTON – A Hammonton High School physical education/health teacher was arrested Wednesday evening and charged with official misconduct and sexual crimes involving three male students, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jeffrey S. Blitz said.

Traci J. Tapp, 28, was arrested without incident at her home in Leon Court in the Atco section of Waterford Township by officers from the prosecutor’s office and the Hammonton Police Department.

Tapp was charged with one count of sexual assault, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual contact and three counts of official misconduct.

Tapp was hired as a physical education/health education teacher at the high school in January 2001. She also served as head coach of the girls soccer team. She was a former soccer standout at Cherokee High School and later at the College of New Jersey in Trenton.

The Hammonton Board of Education suspended Tapp with pay in March 2005 when the allegations came to light, Blitz said.

Tapp allegedly sexually fondled one 17-year-old student whom she invited to her office in the girl’s locker room at the high school between January and February 2001, according to the prosecutor’s office.

She allegedly invited another 17-year-old to her home and both engaged in sexual acts at her direction between June 1 and June 30, 2001, Blitz said.

Tapp invited another 16-year-old student to her home in 2003 and they engaged in multiple acts of sexual intercourse during one night, according to the prosecutor.

A mother of one of the victims brought the allegations to the attention of school officials in March. School officials then contacted Hammonton police, who began an investigation.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Crimes Against Children Unit worked on a joint investigation with the Hammonton police. Crimes Against Children investigator Mary Elliot worked with Hammonton police Detective Joel Frederico and Officer Richard Jones under the supervision of Crimes Against Children Unit head Sgt. Alane Spencer, according to the prosecutor.

Hammonton Police Chief Frank Ingemi said Thursday the prosecutor’s office took its time with the investigation, which lasted nearly six months, but believed that it may not be over.

“If a further investigation is needed, they’ll advise us and we’ll do what we have to do,” Ingemi said. “I believe the whole situation may have to be looked at further. That decision is up to the prosecutor. When you do an investigation you want to make sure that it is complete. Maybe there are some more roads to go down with this.”

Hammonton Superintendent Mary Lou DeFrancisco issued a statement Thursday afternoon.

“We are working through the board solicitor for their advice and guidance,” DeFrancisco said. She declined further comment.

Official misconduct and sexual assault are second-degree crimes that carry a five-to-10 year prison term, upon conviction. Aggravated criminal sexual contact carries a three-to-five year prison sentence upon conviction, the prosecutor’s office said.