Teacher Charged with Touching Students

A former computer teacher at a middle school in Barrington, N.J., was charged Tuesday with repeatedly rubbing the shoulders of teen and preteen girls in one of his classes and touching the thighs of one of them.

Richard Morgenroth is scheduled to appear in municipal court on Oct. 20 to answer the 12 charges of offensive touching.

Morgenroth, 37, of Cherry Hill, was alleged to have touched the 12- to 14-year-old girls between last September and April, when he was suspended from his job at the Woodland School.

Morgenroth's contract was not renewed for the new school year.

If convicted, Morgenroth faces up to 30 days in jail for each of the 12 charges. Authorities say jail time is unlikely, although Morgenroth could be barred from public employment.

No one answered the phone at Morgenroth's number Tuesday afternoon.

Author: NBC10/AP