Sex with students, DWI, terrorizing mom — More NJ teachers lose credentials

TRENTON — State regulators last month stripped several former educators of their teaching credentials after they were convicted of serious crimes against students and relatives.

People found guilty of violent, drug-related, sexual and child-endangering crimes are disqualified from applying for or keeping jobs in public and private schools in New Jersey. Third-degree crimes such as burglary, usury, resisting arrest and criminal mischief also are considered disqualifying offenses.

Here are the former educators that had their licenses revoked by the State Board of Examiners last month.

Robert A. Savage

A former Gloucester City teacher's aide and track coach accused of raping one of his 13-year-old students agreed to plead guilty to a lesser crime that spared him from prison.

Robert A. Savage pleaded guilty to third-degree invasion of privacy. As a result, he was stripped of his substitute teaching certificate.

He was sentenced this year to 364 days of house arrest with electronic monitoring and three years of probation.

The invasion of privacy charge involved the same victim but when she was 25 years old. Savage was accused of videotaping a sexual encounter with her without her permission. His attorney said Savage denied having sex with her when she was a minor.

Donald DeWitt

A former science teacher at Bergen County Academies who was convicted of raping a 16-year-old student formally lost his teaching certificate last month.

Donald DeWitt was sentenced last year to four years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree child abuse involving a sexual act by a caretaker. He will be subject to Megan’s Law reporting requirements and parole supervision for life.

DeWitt was also investigated by the Department of Children and Families' Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit, which substantiated the molestation claim against him, the State Board of Examiners said in their decision.

Christopher D. Kuhn

A man who was accused of holding a screwdriver to the neck of the mother of his 9-month-old baby, who the woman was holding during the attack, had his substitute teaching certificate revoked.

Christopher D. Kuhn pleaded guilty last August to theft by deception, resisting arrest and terroristic threats. He was fined and sentenced to three years of probation.

Previously, in 2014, the court had accepted Kuhn into the pre-trial intervention program after he was charged with credit card fraud.

Richard F. Super

A former Vineland teacher was sentenced this year to two years of probation after he pleaded guilty in May to 4th-degree cruelty and neglect.

Richard F. Super, an eighth grade language arts teacher, had been accused of sending sexually explicit emails to a 13-year-old student. The family of the girl filed notice of their intent to sue the district for $5 million in damages, the Daily Journal reported.

Brian L. Hurff

Brian L. Hurff pleaded guilty in May 2016 to cruelty and neglect. Police say he drove drunk and crashed his car with two children as passengers.

The former biology teacher in the Franklin school district in Somerset County was sentenced last year to two years of probation with drug/alcohol tests.

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Sergio Bichao is deputy digital editor at New Jersey 101.5. Send him news tips: Call 609-438-1015 or email sergio.bichao@townsquaremedia.com.