John C. Stewart
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 33-year-old JOHN C. STEWART of Midland Park, NJ on charges including sexual assault by sexual contact, endangering the welfare of a child, burglary, aggravated criminal sexual contact, criminal sexual contact, and lewdness. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Fair Lawn Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Dawicki.
On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, the Fair Lawn Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding an apparent lewd incident that occurred on the property of Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Fair Lawn, NJ. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Fair Lawn Police Department revealed that on two dates in the month of July 2025, JOHN C. STEWART, a former employee of the school district, entered the middle school at different hours of the day and masturbated in different areas of the school building. Detectives determined that on one occasion, children were present in the building for a summer activity. At this time, there is no evidence that STEWART directly approached any child present. This investigation is continuing and anyone with additional information may contact the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at (201) 226-5532.
On Wednesday, July 9, 2025, as a result of the investigation thus far, JOHN C. STEWART was arrested in Paramus, NJ and charged with second-degree sexual assault by sexual contact, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2B; second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(1); two counts of third-degree burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2A; third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact, N.J.S.A 2C:14-3A; fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-3B; fourth-degree lewdness, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-4B(1); fourth-degree trespassing, N.J.S.A 2C:18-3A; and disorderly persons lewdness, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-4A. It should be noted that the sexual assault by sexual contact and aggravated criminal sexual contact charges, among others, relate to the act of masturbation by the defendant.
Accordingly, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, JOHN C. STEWART was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ.
Prosecutor Mark Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would like to thank the Fair Lawn Police Department for its assistance in this investigation.
