Peter Thompson, a once-respected South Jersey sports reporter, has seen his teaching career come to an ignominious end after pleading guilty to several charges of misconduct while employed at Atlantic County Institute of Technology (ACIT). The charges, which included endangering the welfare of a child, criminal sexual contact, and official misconduct, stem from Thompson’s inappropriate behavior towards students at the Mays Landing vocational school, where he began teaching in 2018. Thompson, who previously anchored newscasts for WMGM-TV and SNJ Today, was immediately fired from ACIT upon being charged in 2022. He was arrested and briefly jailed before being released on bail, with the condition that he have no contact with any students. Investigators uncovered photographs of several students on Thompson’s phone and gathered accounts from teenagers who reported suggestive comments he allegedly made towards them. As part of a plea deal, Thompson pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to two years probation. He also surrendered his teaching license, effectively ending his career in education. The case highlights the serious consequences of misconduct by those in positions of trust, particularly when it involves the welfare of children. Thompson’s actions have not only cost him his teaching career but have also irrevocably damaged the trust placed in him by students and the community.
Former NJ TV Anchor Banned from Teaching After Pleading Guilty to Misconduct
