Man Arrested for Sex Assaults was Arrested in 2008

this summer had been previously charged for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl, a student at a private school in Nutley where he was substitute teaching, law enforcement officials said.

Lee Harris, 26, was teaching at the Abundant Life Academy in Nutley, where the victim was a student in 2008 when he was charged, said Nutley Police Detective Anthony Montanari. Harris was also charged with sexually assaulting the girl in Montclair.

Harris subsequently pleaded guilty to child endangerment and served 277 days in the Essex County Jail, said Katherine Carter, spokeswoman of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

In the most recent incidents this year, Harris is accused of sexually assaulting two victims in Bloomfield on June 18 and July 23, said Bloomfield Police Chief Christopher Goul. Harris is also accused of sexually assaulting another victim in Belleville on Aug. 4.

Police did not reveal details about the alleged victims, whether they were minors or how they were known to Harris.

Harris was most recently arrested on Aug. 6 in Bloomfield on Harrison Street after police were monitoring the area as part of a task force involving law enforcement officials from Bloomfield, Belleville, and the Prosecutor's Office, said Goul.

Police say they saw Harris following the car of a woman who had left a local tavern. Harris apparently followed the woman around 2:30 a.m. as she left in another car, but he lost her during the drive, Goul said.

After he had lost sight of her, Harris started driving erratically and making evasive turns, Goul said. Police officers then stopped him on Harrison Street near Newark Avenue in Bloomfield, where he was allegedly found with a rubber glove in one hand and another glove he had taken off before he was taken into custody.

During the course of an interview, Harris was linked to the three earlier incidents this summer, Goul said.

"Just goes to show what good, hard-nosed, old-fashioned police work is all about," said Bloomfield Mayor Raymond McCarthy. "I am very proud of these men, especially proud of Chief Goul."

Goul said he had initiated the formation of the task force to find the person behind the sexual assaults.

In the Bloomfield and Belleville incidents, Harris was charged with four counts of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of kidnapping, one count of attempted sexual assault, and one count of aggravated assault, Carter said.

Harris, whose last known address was in East Orange, is being held at the Essex County Jail in lieu of $1.1 million bail with no 10 percent option, Carter said.

Harris was arraigned Monday.

In the prior case, Harris was arrested on April 11, 2008 for his involvement with a 14-year-old girl, according to Montanari. In Nutley, Harris was charged with aggravated sexual assault, two counts of criminal sexual attempt, and one count of endangering the welfare of a minor.

In Montclair, he was also charged with second degree sexual assault and five counts of sexual contact, said Montanari. He had allegedly taken the girl to his Montclair apartment where he was accused of committing those offenses.

In addition to his substitute teaching job, Harris was also a student in Montclair, but Montanari said he didn't know where.

Harris is registered as a sex offender under Megan's Law, Carter said.