Toms River School District Under Fire For Alleged Sexual Assault

It's been released that an Ocean County area school district is now facing a lawsuit over allegations of sexual assault said to have taken place between 2005 to 2007 at the Immediate East School in Toms River.

Reportedly, a former coach and teacher within the Toms River Regional School District is being named as the source of the abuse. Claims in the lawsuit allege that the crimes weren't only committed within school grounds, either. Apparently, the assault occurred off of the premises, as well.

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The suit names Shawn Lee, a former tennis coach, as the perpetrator. Ultimately, the lawsuit is being brought against the school district since it claims that the victim initially sought to press charges in 2013. The investigation didn't end with any action taken against Lee. That was until 2019, however, which is when the victim was reportedly contacted by the authorities again and asked to give another statement. The district was reportedly made known of the allegations, and it was then that Lee was allowed to resign from his position.

This lawsuit filed against the Toms River School District claims that the powers-that-be within the district knew of the allegations against Lee. The district is ultimately being sued for neglect, a hostile educational environment, as well as "a failure to rescue and warn."

Nothing more is known about the victim, only that it's alleged that Lee traveled to the town where the former student moved, and another incident occurred there in a nearby park. Only time will tell whether or not all those at fault for what happened are held accountable.

Read more about the lawsuit against the Toms River Regional School District HERE.

NJ teachers and educators caught in sex crime busts

Over the past few years, state lawmakers have taken on the challenge of dealing with accused child predators among the ranks of teachers and educators.

In 2018, the so-called “pass the trash” law went into effect, requiring stricter New Jersey school background checks related to child abuse and sexual misconduct.

The follow individuals were arrested over the past several years. Some have been convicted and sentenced to prison, while others have accepted plea deals for probation.

Others cases are still pending, including some court delays amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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