BRIDGETON — A Cumberland County grand jury this week handed up a new set of indictments alleging sexual offenses by a former Vineland High School substitute teacher.
The defendant — 29-year-old Remarno O. Chambers — was arrested in January 2011 for allegedly sexually assaulting a student to whom he had given alcohol or drugs during a Dec. 26, 2010, party.
Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae said Friday there are two victims of alleged sexual acts by Chambers. Alleged offenses committed against two other victims are covered by charges of reckless endangerment, she said.
Authorities still will not comment on whether the victims were Vineland High School students.
The three indictments handed up this week occurred because the prosecution lost a bid in Superior Court to "try all of the different allegations together," Webb-McRae said. The incidents now lodged against Chambers are broken up by the dates on which the offenses occurred, she said.
An indictment list provided by the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office indicates that one of the indictments is for alleged offenses that occurred on Dec. 26, 2010. The list shows that another indictment is for alleged offenses that occurred on "diverse dates," but shows no date for alleged offenses linked to the third indictment,
Chambers was indicted this week on two counts each of aggravated criminal sexual contact and reckless endangerment, and single counts of criminal attempted aggravated sexual assault, attempted aggravated sexual assault and attempted sexual assault. The grand jury also indicted Chambers on three narcotics charges.
Chambers was in the Cumberland County jail here on $250,000 bail after his arrest in January 2011. He is now free on bail.
Local school district officials said Chambers lost his job after his arrest.
They also said that Chambers started working as a substitute teacher in September 2010. Chambers passed all the required background reviews, which included a check of whether he had a criminal history, before hiring, officials said.
School district officials said they were cooperating with authorities regarding the investigation.
Contact Thomas Barlas:
609-226-9197
