 Todd Lewis
|  Sallyann Scala
|
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Pompton Lakes Police Chief Derek Clark announce the arrest of Todd Lewis, 57, of Wayne, New Jersey and Sallyann Scala, 67, of Pompton Lakes, New Jersey. On December 11, 2024, Mr. Lewis was charged by way of warrant and Ms. Scala was charged by way of summons after an investigation conducted by the Pompton Lakes Police Department.
On October 31, 2024, the Pompton Lakes Police Department advised Special Victims Unit Detectives that a 9-year-old male student at Lenox Elementary School had disclosed that earlier that month, Mr. Lewis had placed masking tape around the back of the student’s neck and secured it to the student’s desk for approximately 40-50 minutes while Ms. Scala was present in the classroom and failed to intervene. The investigation led to Mr. Lewis being charged with one count of second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, in violation of N.J.S. 2C:24-4a(2) and Ms. Scala being charged with one count of fourth degree Abuse and Neglect of Children, in violation of N.J.S. 9:6-3.
Mr. Lewis’s sentencing exposure is five to ten years in New Jersey State Prison on second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Ms. Scala’s sentencing exposure us up to 18 months in New Jersey State Prison on fourth degree Abuse and Neglect of Children. On December 12, 2024, Mr. Lewis appeared for Central Judicial Processing proceedings and was released pending trial on monitoring, with special release conditions that he be prohibited from contact with any minor children including the minor victim. On December 11, 2024, members of the Pompton Lakes Police Department served Ms. Scala with the summons complaint.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite the accusation, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, in a court of law.
Any inquiries regarding the defendants’ employment status should be referred to the Pompton Lakes Board of Education. Any case related inquiries may be directed to Passaic County Senior Assistant Prosecutor Jessica Petrella at jpetrella@passaiccountynj.org or 973-247- 3330.