Former Morris Catholic Teacher Arrested on Sex Crimes Charges

Published on March 08, 2020

Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Acting Chief of Investigations Chris Kimker, and Denville Police Chief Frank Perna announce that Carlos A. Franco-Leon, age 42, of Rockaway Township, has been charged with six counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2a(2)(b), a crime of the first degree; two counts of second degree Sexual Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2c(3)(b); and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(1), a crime of the second degree.

This 42-year-old defendant is alleged to have committed sexual acts upon two minor female students known to him while he was working as a teacher and volleyball coach at Morris Catholic High School, located in Denville, New Jersey. The acts were alleged to have occurred on various occasions between 2015 and 2019. The defendant's employment with Morris Catholic High School ended in 2018.

The defendant has been charged by warrant-complaint and is currently lodged at the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a court appearance.

Prosecutor Knapp would like to thank the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit and the Denville Police Department whose efforts contributed to the investigation of this matter.

Anyone with information relating to this incident is encouraged to call the Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office at 973-285-6200 or the Denville Police Department at 973-627-4900.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Inquiries concerning this press release should be directed to Public Information Officer Meghan Knab at mknab@co.morris.nj.us or 973-829-8159.