Hillsborough High School teacher Kenneth Shindle is alive, attorney says

UPDATE: Hillsborough High School teacher Kenneth Shindle suicide notification an error, prosecutor says

HILLSBOROUGH - Rumors that Hillsborough High School teacher Kenneth Shindle, who is accused of engaging in sexual conduct with a student, has died are untrue, according to Shindle's attorney.

"He's not dead," said Thomas Campo, a Toms River attorney representing Shindle.

Campo said he did not know if it was some kind of prank, but said Shindle is not deceased.

EARLIER: Hillsborough teacher accused of sexual conduct involving underage student

Repeated messages left for school district officials were not returned as of 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Last week Shindle, 27, of Plainsboro, was charged with two second-degree counts of endangering the welfare of a child, one count of engaging in sexual conduct that would impair or debauch the morals of a child and one count of causing harm to a child making her an abused or neglected child, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Plainsboro Police Chief Guy Armour.

The investigation began after Plainsboro police responded to a dispute between the teacher and student on the front lawn of Shindle's home.

The rumor of Shindle's death came Tuesday afternoon.

Earlier Tuesday NJ.com reported Shindle allegedly kissed a student. The report also indicated the student and English teacher shared more than 200 telephone conversations during a five month period earlier this year.

Shindle was suspended from the school where he has been employed as an English teacher for five years with tenure. His salary is $56,045 according to state records.

He was initially being held at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center in North Brunswick and released following a court hearing last week, according to an NJ.com report.

Staff Writer Suzanne Russell: 732-565-7335;srussell@mycentraljersey.com