Middle Township Teacher Among Two Cape May County Women Charged in Atlantic City Casino Theft Case

Court documents describe an alleged $1,250 transfer using a man's cellphone; school district says the allegations do not involve students.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — A Middle Township Middle School teacher is among two Cape May County women facing criminal charges following an alleged encounter at an Atlantic City casino hotel in which authorities say a man was restrained while $1,250 was transferred from his cellphone without permission.

Amanda Crafts, 35, of Wildwood, and Veda Engel, 23, of Cape May, are each charged with second-degree theft and conspiracy to commit robbery in connection with the October 9 incident.

Engel also faces a prostitution charge.

The allegations are detailed in probable cause affidavits obtained and reported by BreakingAC.

Both defendants have been released pending further court proceedings.

Alleged Incident at Harrah's

According to the court documents, the man told police he initially met the women at a bar inside Caesars Atlantic City.

He reportedly exchanged telephone numbers with Engel, who later invited him to a hotel room at Harrah's Atlantic City.

The man alleged that the women restrained him on a bed while Engel performed a sexual act.

According to investigators, Crafts then held the man down while Engel used the facial-recognition feature on his cellphone to authorize four Apple Pay transactions totaling $1,250.

The man told police he had not consented to the transfers.

Those allegations have not been proven in court.

School District Confirms Staff Member's Arrest

The case attracted additional attention after Crafts identified herself as a teacher during a court appearance.

Middle Township Middle School's online staff directory lists Crafts as a computer teacher.

Middle Township Superintendent Stephanie DeRose subsequently notified parents and employees that a school district staff member had been arrested in connection with an incident outside the school environment.

The superintendent did not identify the employee in her letter or disclose whether disciplinary action would be taken.

"Please know the charges do not involve any alleged threat, inappropriate behavior, or misconduct occurring within our schools or involving our students," DeRose wrote.

The district said it takes such matters seriously while recognizing the legal rights of those involved.

"We also recognize the importance of respecting the legal process and the principle that every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty," DeRose stated.

The district declined to discuss individual personnel matters.

Defendants Released Pending Trial

During an initial court appearance, Crafts disputed her involvement in the alleged crime.

"I've never been arrested before. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time," she told Superior Court Judge Timothy Maguire, according to BreakingAC's account of the hearing.

Both women were subsequently granted pretrial release following detention hearings on Thursday, October 15.

The state consented to their release under court supervision.

Conditions include check-ins every other week and restrictions prohibiting the defendants from contacting each other or the alleged victim.

The court also directed both women to maintain employment.

The pretrial release decisions do not resolve the criminal charges.

Employment Status Unclear

It remains unclear whether Crafts will continue teaching at Middle Township Middle School while the criminal case proceeds.

The district has not publicly announced any employment action.

Authorities have not alleged that the incident involved students, school property or school-related activities.

The criminal proceedings remain pending, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

South Jersey NewsBeat will continue monitoring the court case and any official updates from the Middle Township School District.