HAMMONTON — Authorities arrested a female Hammonton High School teacher on charges she fondled one student and engaged in sex acts with two others.
Traci J. Tapp, 28, of Atco was charged Wednesday with official misconduct, sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual contact. Tapp, who was hired in January 2001 to teach physical education and health at the school, was released on $25,000 bond.
The Board of Education suspended her with pay in March when the allegations came to light, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jeffrey S. Blitz said.
According to the prosecutor, Tapp:
# Sexually fondled a 17-year-old boy, whom she invited to her office in the high school’s girls locker room between January and February 2001.
# Invited another 17-year-old boy to her home and engaged in sexual acts in June 2001.
# Invited a 16-year-old boy to her home in 2003 and engaged in sexual intercourse.
A mother of one of the victims brought the allegations to the attention of school officials in March.
This is not the first time the Hammonton School District has had to deal with such a matter.
In 2003, district bus driver Rodolfo Perez, 47, was sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually assaulting a teen on his school bus. He also provided alcohol to another teen at a New Year’s Eve party.
