Suspended Morris County teacher charged with child endangerment, luring involving 13-year-old student
CHESTER, N.J. (Morris County) — Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Chester Police Chief Ryan T. McNamee announced that Lorri Ann Willis, 45, of Hackettstown, has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child and luring in connection with alleged inappropriate text conversations with a 13-year-old student.
According to authorities, the Chester Police Department received a report in October 2025 regarding alleged inappropriate behavior by a teacher at Black River Middle School. Investigators allege that Willis sent sexual and suggestive text messages to a 13-year-old child who was her former student between June 2024 and October 2025.
Willis has been suspended from her teaching position, officials said.
As a result of the investigation, Willis was charged on Oct. 20, 2025, with one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of second-degree luring.
Under the Criminal Justice Reform Act, Willis is being detained at the Morris County Correctional Facility pending future court proceedings.
Members of the Chester Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit conducted the investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the case to contact the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at 973-285-6200.
