Teen Speaks Out in Support of Teacher Charged with Sexual Assault

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP, N.J. — A 19-year-old man is publicly supporting Laura Caron, a former fifth-grade teacher facing multiple charges of sexual assault involving him when he was just 13 years old. The young man claims that their alleged sexual relationship was consensual and denies being a victim of grooming or manipulation.

In a recent interview, he stated, “They need to drop all charges. I wasn’t groomed or raped or manipulated by her. She never initiated anything; I started everything.” He expressed a desire to ultimately reunite with Caron, saying, “If it was up to me, she wouldn’t have been in jail. It’s been six or seven years. I’m 19, about to be 20.”

Prosecutors, however, strongly disagree. Laura Caron, now 34, has been charged with aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, and endangering the welfare of a child. If convicted, she could face more than 10 years in prison. The legal age of consent in New Jersey is 16, and it is illegal for anyone in a position of authority or ‘duty of care’ to have sexual relations with a minor.

Caron was a teacher at Middle Township Elementary School Number 2 when she became pregnant and gave birth in 2019. The case came to light when the teen’s father identified striking similarities between Caron’s child and his son in a Facebook post in December 2024, prompting an investigation that ultimately revealed the boy’s paternity.

Authorities note that the boy and his siblings spent considerable time at Caron’s home, with the siblings even living with her from 2016 to 2020. Investigators have reported testimony from the teen’s sister, who recalled times when she would fall asleep next to her brother only to find him in Caron’s bed upon waking.

Another sibling, according to prosecutors, witnessed Caron allegedly assaulting the boy while he was asleep. Since Caron’s arrest on January 15, 2025, she has been prohibited from any contact with the teenage father while the case is pending.

The teen expressed frustration at not being able to see his daughter. “I can’t talk to them,” he told DailyMail.com. “I wish I could, but I can’t. And it sucks.” He further expressed anger towards his father, blaming him for initiating the investigation.

“She was a positive influence in my life,” the teen concluded. “I love her with all my heart. She was there for me and my family.” His attorney, John Tumelty, has not commented publicly on the matter.

The case has raised significant discussions regarding how social perceptions of consent and age differences in relationships are navigating court systems. Both sides anticipate a complex legal battle that will explore these themes in depth.