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Saturday, May 3, 2014

UPDATED: Prosecutors Confirm Former Galloway Principal John Gibson Involved in Criminal Investigation

UPDATE: Superintendent of Schools Annette C. Giaquinto issues statement regarding former Principal John Gibson.

Original Story:
The Ocean County Prosecutors Office may have cast new light on what happened to former Galloway Principal John Gibson and his continued paid absences. 

Galloway Township News obtained a letter dated May 2, 2014 between the Ocean County Prosecutors Office (OCPO) and John Paff, Chairman of the New Jersey Libertarian Party's Open Government Advocacy Project.  The letter was in response to an Open Public Records Request for contents of a file involving former Galloway Principal John Gibson.

The letter came after an initial OPRA request and email response on April 29, 2014 by the OCPO to Paff. According to Paff, the OCPO offered and further confirmed in their response, that an incident occurred in Little Egg Harbor Township, NJ that involved the Galloway Principal even though Paff's request did not mention any specific town. 

On March 1, 2014, Galloway Township News was the first news agency to report the absence of a Galloway Township Public School Principal that caused great concern within the parental community of Galloway Township. 

Concern that just may be validated by the OCPO by way of their response to John Paff. In the response, the OCPO stated "this office cannot release the contents of this file without a protective court order after an in camera review and a finding of "good cause" by the Court. See N.J.S.A. 2A: 82-46(c), which after further research of the NJ Law Library pertaining to that particular statute it explains an exemption regarding disclosure of documents pertaining to "child victims of crime of abuse".


The statute further states, "In prosecutions for aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, criminal sexual contact, endangering the welfare of children under N. J.S.2C:24-4, or in any action alleging an abused or neglected child under P.L.1974, c.119 (C.9:6-8.21 et. seq.), the name, address, and identity of a victim who was under the age of 18 at the time of the alleged commission of a offense shall not appear on the indictment, complaint, or any other public record as defined in P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-l et. seq.). In its place initials or a fictitious name shall appear."

On February 20, 2014, Dr. Annette C. Giaquinto, Superintendent of Galloway Township Public Schools notified parents of children within Arthur Rann Elementary School and Pomona Preschool that "John Gibson, Principal is currently out on leave." Giaquinto made that statement in a letter sent home to all parents.

Even though on March 10, 2014, Galloway Township News  reached out to the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office, Galloway Township Police, and the School District all of which remained silent as to what reason(s), if any, are for the absence of this Galloway Township Principal, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office has now released information that begins to close the gap on what happened.

Galloway Township Police Captain Chris Doyle could not offer comment regarding this although through the documentation, it appears the appropriate investigating agency is the Ocean County Prosecutors Office as well as the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office by way of keeping them informed of this active criminal investigation.

Gibson is no longer with the School District as On March 24, 2014, Gibson submitted his letter of resignation for retirement purposes effective March 31, 2014, giving the school district one official week of notice. Gibson stated in his letter, "please accept this letter as notification of my resignation for the purpose of retirement effective at the close of business on March 31, 2014. I will have fond memories of the staff and students at Arthur Rann Elementary School and most recently the Pomona Pre-School."

Gibson who earned an annual salary of $129,145.92 plus $4,000 in additional stipends, has most likely submitted his application to the State in order to retire and begin to collect his Pension Benefits, while this investigation is active. 

Dr. Annette C. Giaquinto did not return our request for comment prior to publication. UPDATE: Superintendent of Schools Annette C. Giaquinto issues statement regarding former Principal John Gibson.

Anyone with information regarding this criminal investigation are encouraged to contact their local law enforcement, including the Galloway Township Police Department at (609) 652-3705 or through the Crime Stoppers tip hotline at (609) 652-1234. 

Individuals can also contact the Ocean County Prosecutors Office at (732) 929-2027 and the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office at (609) 909-7800. 

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Once and for all, this should prove to readers that Galloway Township News is THE best source for breaking news in Galloway and the surrounding area. No other Publication dared report on this. A free source of info by someone who does this on her own time for no profit. strictly because she cares for this community. The Press of AC and the Current should be ashamed for dropping the ball on such an important issue. Good Job Ms. Tilton Keep up the good work!
Sidebar: The GTBE should be investigated for trying to protect and cover up this atrocious act.

Anonymous said...

What atrocious act? Who is covering up what? This story is highly speculative, look at the number of occurrences of the word, "may" and similar assumptions. The only definite item is the existence of a vaguely/carefully worded letter from the Ocean County Prosecutors. If at some point charges are preferred, then the wheels if justice will turn accordingly. So, unless anonymous 1.35 knows something not yet in the public domain, to make outrageous accusations of a "cover up" of an "atrocious act" is at best pure scandal mongering and at worst, libelous.

Anonymous said...

I know what happened and I'm disgusted at why they allowed him to be paid.

Anonymous said...

Then stand up and talk

Unknown said...

Just goes to show that the public school systems are getting worse and worse, I couldn't be more blessed than to have moved away and have the privilege of home schooling. God bless those children

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