School Volunteer Sentenced to Prison for Sexual Assault

In Newark, New Jersey, Glenn Harp was sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 7-year old girl in the elementary school where she attended and at his apartment.

The assaults took place between September 2007 and January 2008. They were uncovered when the little girl reported them to her grandmother.

During the course of the investigation, authorities learned that Harp had a prior offense and a proper background check was not conducted before placing him in the elementary school's after-school program. His prior offense was "Endanger Welfare of a Child" which he was found guilty of in 2000.

Harp will serve 15 years in prison and is required to serve 85% of his term before coming eligible for parole. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and will serve parole for the rest of his life. The family of the victim intends to sue Grove Street Elementary and the community group which runs the after-school program.

An inexpensive, quick background could have been done by this school and therefore would have saved this child from the harm that befell her. The prosecutor in the case was quoted as saying, "This case represents a stark reminder to organizations who hire volunteers to supervise children that the proper screening of candidates should always be done."