Bville Middle School Assistant Principal Remains Jailed [POLL]
Thursday night session at Bernards High School scheduled for school parents, as counseling continues at the middle school.
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As of Wednesday afternoon, Patrick Lott, assistant principal at Bernardsville Middle School, remained jailed while an investigation continued into accusations that the school administrator had videotaped male students at Immaculata High School in Somerville, where he had been a volunteer, said Capt. Jack Bennett, a spokesman for the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office.
Lott, 54, of Somerville, was arrested on Dec. 23 after during a search of his home, detectives allegedly turned up videos of naked boys showering in Immaculata High School's communal shower area, according to the prosecutor's office. Lott has been charged with 22 counts of third-degree invasion of privacy, nine counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, nine counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and nine counts of fourth-degree endangering the welfare of a child, the prosecutor's office said.
Session scheduled for parents on Thursday night
Meanwhile, mental health professionals are scheduled to hold a session at Bernards High School from 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday that will focus on how to talk to children about difficult topics, according to information from Peter Miller, superintendent of the Somerset County Regional School District.
All adults are invited to attend the session, which will be led by the staff of the Richard Hall Community Mental Health Center, a division of the Somerset County Division of Human Services.
Meanwhile, counseling continues to be available at the Bernardsville Middle School, and as of Tuesday, Lynn Sharp, former middle school and Bedwell Elementary assistant principal, began serving as the BMS substitute assistant principal, according to information from the superintendent's office.
Miller said that on Tuesday, counselors from the Richard Hall Community Health Center met with the middle school and high school administration and staff prior to the start of the school day to share strategies to assist them in helping students.
"In addition to our counselors, specially trained Richard Hall counselors were available throughout the day for BMS and BHS students in need of services. Students were informed of the recent events in age appropriate language and were reassured that our goal is for them to feel safe and supported," said an email on Wednesday from Miller's office.
Meanwhile, the Bernardsville News reported that investigators' search of the schools in Bernardsville showed that no hidden cameras — the device allegedly used by Lott to video the Immaculata teenagers — were discovered in those schools.
Also, NJ.com reported earlier this week that Lott's attorney said he was not yet seeking to have his $500,000 bail reduced, and that Lott remained in Somerset County Jail.
According to Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano, search warrants were executed at Lott's house in Somerville on Dec. 13 and Dec. 16 through the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit. Detectives with the Computer Crimes Unit, Soriano said, also searched Lott's computer files and digital recordings. A total of nine of the teenagers identified in the video are under the age of 16, Soriano said.
Detectives, Soriano said, also found the spot in the school area where a camera allegedly had been installed for video recording. Soriano said Lott is affiliated with the high school as a volunteer.
Lott was lodged in the Somerset County Jail, with bail set at $500,000 cash or bond. Soriano said that as a condition of Lott's bail, he is not to have any contact with any child under age 16, and cannot have contact either with any victims or the staff and faculty at Immaculata High School.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit at 908-575-3300, or the tip line at 1-888-577-8477. All calls will be confidential.
TJ
6:15 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
i will not fill out the poll, but this reinforces the fact that there are predators EVERYWHERE. Of course I feel horribly for the students and families. Do you know who else I feel sorry for? Honest men with morals and integrity who do work with children. Because I know that they are scrutinized and people are skeptical of them because of horrible people like Lott here. If I had boys you can bet that I'd be that annoying parent sitting in the back of EVERY boy scout meeting or camping trip. Unfortunately, child molesters work to gain both children's and parents' trust. And once they have it they take advantage. Yes, we have to protect kids from strangers. but 9 times out of 10 it's a male who is known and trusted by the family. That's why we are all so horrified and confused when this happens.
Gigi Guy
10:53 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
I have known Lott since my son and his daughter (now both seniors at Immaculata) were in kindergarten -- and I thought he was a top notch man. This has shaken me to the core because I thought so highly of him -- and if HE is dirty, I'll find it hard to trust again. But what I don't understand is that now I'm told (directly from eight young men) that Lott was always weird about them needing to take showers, and they felt uncomfortable with him hanging around the showers ... and this was since 2008. Why did it take so long to do a search? Was the school valuing its reputation more than the concerns of students? Who dismissed the uneasiness & distress of these minors and their disquiet parents?
n
2:09 pm on Thursday, January 5, 2012
If it's like Bernards Twp BOE, they are protecting their reputation, after which they will fight the law suit and then buy the families silence with a non-discloser agreement.
goridge
2:37 pm on Thursday, January 5, 2012
I think @ n's comments are totally inappropriate. Please do not use a very upsetting situation to attack our Board of education. I think the students need to be encouraged to say something if they are feeling uncomfortable then the administration should act on it immediately.
Linda Sadlouskos
6:32 am on Thursday, January 5, 2012
As a reminder, Mr. Lott has been charged in this case, but not convicted. But the previous commenter raises a good question — what is done when students/parents are uneasy about a situation, even if no crime is committed?
sra
8:30 am on Thursday, January 5, 2012
The system needs to change - all schools/institutions should stop changing/showering of children if there is no parent supervision. Children can wait to go home and change/shower. I would urge boys to learn to speak up and not take situations too easy, especially with such "mentally sick" adults around. No matter how close they get to any coach or adults around them, they should learn to draw the line (parents and teachers/councilors should repeatedly educate/talk about this to the children)
Lori
12:03 pm on Saturday, January 7, 2012
1. It does not seem as if there were previous complaints and someone was protecting Lott. So any accusations against the B'ville BOE are inappropriate and false at this point.
2. However, some of us are familiar with the Bernards Township issues.......which may be why n stated "If it's like Bernards Twp BOE"
n
9:41 pm on Saturday, January 7, 2012
Thank you Lori, you understand what I was getting at.
mcg
1:17 pm on Saturday, January 7, 2012
Has this man been legally convicted of anything yet? If so, what? and what is the penalty? Is it possible and how can this be prevented in the future?
Linda Sadlouskos
1:50 pm on Saturday, January 7, 2012
Mcg -- Mr. Lott, who was employed as assistant principal at the Bernardsville Middle School, has been charged with 22 counts of third-degree invasion of privacy, nine counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, nine counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and nine counts of fourth-degree endangering the welfare of a child, according to the initial Somerset County Prosecutor's Office release. He has not been convicted. In fact, as of Friday, anyone with relevant information was asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit at 908-575-3300, or the tip line at 1-888-577-8477.
It is a good question how to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, which can also be damaging to a person falsely accused, as well as children who may find themselves in an uncomfortable situation.
mcg
2:15 pm on Saturday, January 7, 2012
Thank you That was my understanding, and the charges are surely serious and concerning. This, however, is the beginning of the process, not the end .For the benefit of those who might be considered "collateral damage" ie: families,etc, as well as students, who are observing and learning from adult behaviour, it seems a good idea to go forward in a reasonable,non judgemental manner for this very emotional problem..