NJ Teacher's Aide Gets Prison in Sex Case - Updated

(Morristown, New Jersey) Former teacher's aide Danielle Hart, 36, was sentenced today to five years in prison. She also must register as a sex offender and serve supervised parole for life.

Defense attorney Marc Futterweit had asked for leniency, claiming that Hart committed the crimes because she was vulnerable and depressed from her boyfriend abusing her and beating her dog to death.

Hart must serve one year and five days before being eligible for parole.

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NJ Teacher Guilty of Sex with Male Student - Updated
[Previous 6/17/10 post]
(Morristown, New Jersey) Former teacher's aide at the Shepard School, Danielle M. Hart, pleaded guilty today to sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a minor. Hart admitted that she committed an act of sexual penetration with a 17-year-old male student.

Hart met the victim, now 20, when she was an aide for the Shepard School on Columba Street in Morristown. The private school is for students with behavioral problems and learning disabilities and she first met him in the 2005-06 school year when he was a sophomore.

Hart did not need any certifications to serve as a teacher's aide and after sentencing would be barred from teaching anyway because of her conviction for a sexual offense.

Prosecutor LaJuan Tucker recommends that Hart be sentenced to five years in state prison and ordered to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law. First, however, Hart must be evaluated by the New Jersey Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center at Avenel.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 13.

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New Jersey Teacher Accused of Sex with Male Student
[Previous 2/18/09 post]
(Morristown, New Jersey) A 35-year-old teacher's aide formerly at the Shepard School, Danielle M. Hart, has been charged with multiple sex crimes for allegedly engaging in sex with a 17-year-old special needs student. The alleged sex reportedly occurred between June and November 2007.

Hart faces charges of sexual assault, child endangerment, and aggravated criminal sexual contact. Upon her arrest last Friday, Hart reportedly admitted she had intercourse with the male student.

Hart was booked into custody at the Morris County Jail and later released on $100,000 bail.