Lyndhurst Teacher Lauren Mitchell who Taught at a Jersey City Charter School Facing 131-½ Years Opts for Trial in Student Sex Assault Case
By Mary K. Miraglia
HACKENSACK, N.J. (May 15, 2017) — A Lyndhurst woman accused of an inappropriate sexual relationship with a female student at the Jersey City charter school where she was a second-grade teacher has bypassed a plea agreement and will go to trial next spring.
Lauren Mitchell of Lyndhurst, 34, is charged with 16 separate counts including aggravated sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and disobeying a judicial order. She sent shock waves through the legal community a month after her arrest when she violated bail conditions by trying to contact her student victim, prosecutors say, by calling from a masked phone number and sending a text message to the girl.
Presiding Judge Margaret M. Foti went through the list of Mitchell’s charges Monday, and explained the maximum sentence for each count, should Mitchell be convicted at a trial. The total on all counts added up to 131-½ years, according to Foti. She is charged with two first degree counts of aggravated sexual assault at 20 years each, endangering the welfare of a child, official misconduct and contempt of court.
“Do you understand what you’re charged with?” the judge asked Mitchell.
“Yes,” she replied.
“And it’s your desire to go to trial?”
“Yes,” Mitchell said.
In saying, Mitchell rejected a plea offer that required her to plead guilty to one count of first degree sexual assault, to be sentenced in the second degree range (generally five years), be subject to Megan’s law sex offender registry, parole supervision for life, and be barred from teaching. All other counts would have been dismissed. Any charges that Mitchell may be convicted of will be subject to the state No Early Release Act, meaning she would have to serve at least 85 percent of that before parole eligibility.
The remainder of the brief hearing established a motion and trial calendar. Foti said all motions must be filed by October, and oral arguments heard Nov. 30. Final pre-trial motions will be filed in January and heard Feb. 26.
Mitchell is represented by John Latoracca of Bruno & Ferraro, Rutherford. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Demetra Maurice, head of the Special Victims Unit.
She was arrested June 19, 2015 after an investigation begun when authorities were contacted by officials of the Dr. Lena Edwards Academic Charter School in Jersey City. Mitchell was a second grade teacher there, while the girl concerned was 15 and a student at the school, but not being taught by Mitchell.
School officials told investigators several teachers had reported “inappropriate behavior” between the two on a class trip, which they reported to their supervisors. Investigators charge that sexual activity between the two took place in Mitchell’s Lyndhurst home, which is why the case was brought in Bergen County.
After she tried to contact the victim, her bail was increased by $50,000 for contempt of court and added to the original amount of $150,000. A judge told Mitchell and her husband, a firefighter, that any further violations would result in bail being revoked and Mitchell sitting in jail until the case could be resolved.
Lauren Mitchell, 33, faces 16-counts in the indictment handed down by a Bergen County Grand Jury, including aggravated sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and disobeying a judicial order.
