Pequannock High School Teacher Charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault

Published on September 30, 2025

Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Pequannock

Police Chief Daniel Comune, announce that William Arnold, 53, of Wayne, has been charged

with Aggravated Sexual Assault, Sexual Assault, Official Misconduct, Endangering the Welfare

of a Child, and Criminal Sexual Contact.

In September 2025, the Pequannock Police and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office were

notified of allegedly inappropriate behavior by one of the school’s teachers. An investigation

determined that on multiple occasions over the previous year, Arnold sexually assaulted the

victim, who was 15 and 16-years-old at the time. The defendant is a teacher of the victim and

works at the school where the victim attends. He has been suspended by the school district.

As a result of the investigation, Arnold was charged on September 29, 2025, with one count of

Aggravated Sexual Assault, a crime of the first degree, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2a2b; one

count of Sexual Assault, a crime of the second degree, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2c3b; one

count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a crime of the second degree, in violation of

N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a1; one count of Official Misconduct, a crime of the second degree, in violation

of N.J.S.A. 2C:30-2a and one count of Criminal Sexual Contact, a crime of the fourth degree, in

violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-3b.

Pursuant to the Criminal Justice Reform Act, Arnold has been detained in the Morris County

Correctional Facility pending future court proceedings.

The investigation remains ongoing, and no further information will be released at this time.

Members of the Pequannock Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit are participating in this investigation.

If anyone has any information related to this investigation, they are encouraged to call the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit at 973-285-6200.

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

Media inquiries concerning this press release should be directed to mknab@co.morris.nj.us.