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	Former Teacher at Kent Place School Summit, Charged with Sexual Assault Independent Press February 27, 2009 http://www.nj.com/independentpress/index.ssf/2009/02/former_teacher_at_kent_place_s.html AREA — A former teacher at a Summit private school, who also served as a minister of music at a Short Hills church, has been charged with sexual assault for an alleged relationship with a 15-year-old girl, Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow and Summit Police Chief Robert Lucid announced on Thursday, Feb. 26. Warren Halsey Brown, 67, was a music teacher at Kent Place School for nearly 15 years until leaving his position in October 2008. It was at the school, police allege, that Mr. Brown met the victim in September, 2007. It appears their relationship became sexual in September 2008, according to Prosecutor Romankow, who said Mr. Brown continued his relationship with the victim through activities outside of school for several months. An investigation was launched after the victim's parents became suspicious and notified police. School officials have cooperated with the police during the investigation, said Mr. Romankow, and authorities have spent the last several days searching records and computer files related to the case. Earlier in his career Mr. Brown taught at both Columbia and Drew universities and spent the last 20 years as the minister of music at the Community Congregational Church in Short Hills, a post he recently vacated. He was also the choir director and organist at Temple B'Nai Jeshurun in Short Hills. Prosecutors charged Mr. Brown with one count of 1st Degree Aggravated Sexual Assault and one count of 2nd Degree Sexual Assault. He was charged with a first-degree crime because he clearly abused his position of power over the victim to conduct the relationship, the prosecutor said. "It seems that arrests like these are becoming all too common," the prosecutor said. "To abuse a position of power and manipulate a young person into an inappropriate relationship is reprehensible." Chief Lucid said, "A case like this reminds all parents, guardians and responsible adults to keep a careful eye on minors and the relationships they hold. Any suspicious behavior should be reported." Mr. Brown is being held at the Union County Jail on $275,000 bail and is expected to make his first court appearance within the next few days. The authorities noted that criminal charges are only accusations; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. This remains an ongoing investigation and anyone with relevant information is urged to contact Summit Police Department Sgt. Thomas Rich at 908-273-0051 or Prosecutor's Office Detective Patricia Gusmano at 909-965-3809.
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