Galloway Resident, Linwood Teacher Charged with Assault of Student

LINWOOD – A Linwood middle school teacher was charged and arrested last month for the assault of a student of the school, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner announced.

On February 10, 2017, Linwood Police responded to the Belhaven Avenue Middle School in Linwood, NJ, upon receiving a report by Linwood Public Schools officials of the assault of a 12-year-old student by a school employee the day before.

As a result of the investigation, on February 15, 2017, the Linwood Police Department charged Kimberley M. Peschi, 40, of the 200 block of East Colman Place, Galloway Township, NJ with Cruelty and Neglect of Children—a 4th degree crime, and Simple Assault—a disorderly persons offense, alleging that Peschi, a Belhaven Avenue Middle School teacher, used her leg on the chair of a seated student to pull the chair and student backwards, causing the victim to hit his head on the floor. 

Peschi was processed for the arrest the same day at the Linwood Police Department, and issued a summons complaint.

Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner said, “This matter is currently under review by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.”

Anyone with information regarding this matter is asked to contact the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at (609) 909-7800, or the Linwood Police Department at (609) 927- 5252.

These charges are merely an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, a charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.