The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe A.H., filed a civil lawsuit on Jan. 14 alleging that Cherokee High School Latin teacher Brantley Cesanek groomed and sexually assaulted her over more than two years beginning in 2016. Cesanek was arrested in October 2018, pleaded guilty in 2019 to endangering the welfare of a child, and was sentenced to five years in prison; he has since been released. The suit names the Lenape Regional High School District, Cherokee High School and Cesanek, accuses school officials of ignoring warning signs, and seeks compensatory and punitive damages plus a jury trial.
N.J. School District Sued After Ex-Student Alleges Years of Grooming and Assault by 'Obsessed' Teacher
Burlington County Prosecutor's Office
A former student has filed a civil lawsuit accusing Cherokee High School and the Lenape Regional High School District of failing to protect her from a teacher who allegedly groomed and sexually assaulted her over more than two years.
Allegations In The Complaint
The plaintiff, identified in court papers as Jane Doe A.H., filed the complaint on Jan. 14 in New Jersey Superior Court. She alleges that Brantley Cesanek, a Latin teacher who ran the school's Latin club, began targeting her in 2016 when she was about 15 years old. The filing says Cesanek engaged in prolonged sexual grooming, made repeated sexual advances and ultimately sexually assaulted her.
According to the complaint, Cesanek once took the student into his classroom during the school day, pinned her against a wall, kissed her and groped her under her dress.
Patterns Of Special Treatment
The suit details a pattern of special treatment the teacher allegedly gave the student: praising her appearance, bringing her breakfast and coffee in front of staff, permitting her to eat lunch in his classroom, giving expensive gifts (including a soccer jersey), and issuing numerous hall passes. It also alleges he passed handwritten love notes—including one ending with “I love you” in Greek—and spent excessive unsupervised time with her.
Criminal Case And Sentencing
Authorities arrested Cesanek in October 2018 after a Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office investigation described an "inappropriate ... ongoing sexual relationship" with a student. He pleaded guilty in 2019 to second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and was sentenced in September 2019 to five years in prison. Court records show he is no longer employed by the district and has since been released from custody.
Claims Against The District
The civil suit names the Lenape Regional High School District Board of Education, the district itself, Cherokee High School and Cesanek as defendants. It accuses school officials of repeatedly observing patterns of favoritism and failing to report or stop the conduct. The complaint highlights the volume of hall passes and other school-generated documentation as evidence that the district should have detected the pattern earlier.
Aftermath And Relief Sought
Per the complaint, the teacher's alleged obsession continued after the student left for college, culminating in an alleged unannounced visit to her dorm. The student and her family contacted police in October 2018; the complaint says Cesanek was arrested less than 24 hours later. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages and requests a jury trial.
Responses
An attorney for the plaintiff said the lawsuit seeks accountability and institutional change to prevent similar abuse. The Lenape Regional High School District did not respond to requests for comment in the reporting. Cesanek could not be reached by telephone, with listed numbers out of service.
Source
Reporting and court documents obtained by PEOPLE and a statement from the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.
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