Former Westwood band director and Morris County resident charged with sexual contact with student
BERGEN COUNTY, NJ – A former Westwood Regional School District band director was arrested on Friday on charges of aggravated sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child, according to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella.
On Wednesday, Jan. 3, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit was contacted by the Hopatcong Borough Police Department regarding alleged sexual conduct between a teacher, who was identified as Kurt Zimmermann, 55, of Rockaway, and a student in Westwood Borough, Musella said.
An investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office revealed that Zimmermann, while previously employed by the Westwood Regional School District as the director of bands, allegedly engaged in sexual conduct with a juvenile student between the ages of 13 and 17 on more than one occasion, Musella said.
The sexual conduct, which occurred in the past, was determined to have taken place at Westwood Regional Middle School in Westwood Borough and at Westwood Regional High School in Washington Township, Musella said.
Zimmermann was arrested in Paramus on Friday, Feb. 23 and charged with three counts of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact, and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, Musella said.
He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court, Musella said.
According to Zimmermann’s LinkedIn, he was director of bands with Hopatcong High School from July 2013 to June 2023 and as a coordinator of student disciple from July 2021 to present. He worked at Westwood Regional Schools from Sept. 2010 to 2013.
“This investigation, led by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, is ongoing,” Musella siad.
Anyone with additional information about this case may contact the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 201-226-5532.
