Michael Izzo

@MIzzoDR

DENVILLE--A Morris Catholic High School music teacher was charged with lewdness Tuesday after he was seen masturbating while watching children at a bus stop, police said.

The arrest was made after police got a call about a man masturbating in the back seat of a vehicle at a bank on Route 53, police said.

The vehicle had left the scene by the time police arrived but the witness who allegedly observed the man in the act gave police the license plate of the vehicle, according to police Capt. Paul Nigro.

The plate led police to John Watson, 33, of North Brunswick, and investigators learned he had done this at least three additional times but Nigro would not say how police came to that conclusion.

Watson was charged with four counts of lewdness, and released after posting bail, police said.

Nigro said the name and location of the Route 53 bank was not disclosed for the safety of the children at the bus stop.

Rich Sokerka, spokesperson for the Diocese of Paterson, said Watson was a part-time music teacher at Morris Catholic, and had resigned from his position following his arrest Tuesday.

"His criminal background check and fingerprint check, given prior to his start of employment in September, had come back clean," Sokerka said. "He had also completed 'Protecting God's Children,' the Paterson Diocese's prevention program on child sexual abuse. He also signed the diocesan Code of Conduct for employees, pledging to abide by it."

Morris Catholic has cooperated fully with Denville police in the matter, Sokerka said.

Watsons also runs a music instruction business out of North Brunswick, John Watson Productions.

When reached by phone, Watson declined to comment on the matter.

According to the biography on his website, Watson went to Raritan Valley Community College before transferring to William Paterson University.

He has taught high school and middle school choir in both private and public schools and runs his own music instruction business, according to his website, which said he had also recently opened a magic business, Magic by JW.

The website said that he also directs music shows statewide and was lead trumpet in the Mayo Performing Arts Center production of "Hairspray." It said he got married in March of this year.

Nigro said police are not releasing additional information at this time, citing an open investigation, and urging anyone with additional details to call the Denville Police Department at 973-627-4900.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@dailyrecord.com