A 43-year-old special education teacher from New Jersey is facing charges of sexually assaulting one of her students. The teacher, identified as Danielle Havemann-Niedrach, was arrested earlier this week without incident and is currently being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution pending a first appearance and detention hearing.
According to officials, the suspect allegedly committed the acts at her school, which only includes students in grades six through eight. The exact number of instances is unknown. Havemann-Niedrach’s teaching career has been marked by a lack of transparency, as her LinkedIn profile hails her as a “passionate” and “results-driven” educator, while a mugshot obtained by the Daily Mail shows her smiling.
The Freehold Borough School District, where Havemann-Niedrach worked from 2022, has released a statement following her arrest. Superintendent Asia Michael notified parents of the situation on Friday, describing the teacher as a “former staff member” and stating that charges had been filed. However, the charge listed was incorrect.
Michael assured the safety and well-being of students and staff is the district’s top priority, and immediate measures have been taken to ensure this. The superintendent closed the statement by acknowledging the distressing news might cause, but emphasized understanding and support.
Havemann-Niedrach’s attorney, Thomas Huth, has maintained her client’s innocence at this time. She is set to appear in court this Wednesday for a hearing, during which the judge will determine whether she will be detained or allowed to await trial.
