Alan R. Craig, the school's headmaster, said that Keller had been fired
from his job as a math teacher. He said the school would have Keller ''prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
Craig said Keller had admitted guilt. But prosecutors would not say whether Keller had confessed.
Burlington County Prosecutor Stephen P. Raymond said police were tipped off when the 13-year-old told his mother, who reported the incident to the Indiana Division of Family Services.
Raymond said the boy was traveling with Keller, an old family friend, on a tour of the East Coast from July 6 through 12. Keller had visited the boy's family in Indiana and brought him back to Moorestown. They then traveled to Maine, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., and North Carolina.
Keller met the family of the 13-year-old while he was a student at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. Raymond, who said he did not know if the boy's family was affiliated with the university, said Keller had been the boy's baby-sitter when the child was about 8 years old.
Raymond said the boy told police that Keller had constantly fondled him despite his protests.
"These were forceful acts totally against the victim's will," Raymond said. "From the time the victim got in the car, the defendant was constantly touching him. It was a constant assault. The victim continually rejected the advances."
Raymond said the Indiana boy was able to call his mother from Keller's apartment on July 12, and told her "in a quieted voice" that he wanted to come home immediately. Raymond said the boy was frightened of Keller.
"There were no direct threats, but there were veiled threats," he said.
After the boy returned to Indiana and reported the incidents, police in Franfort, Ind., contacted Burlington County authorities, who sent investigators to interview the child.
Raymond said investigators were led to the second boy when the first victim told them that the other boy had come to visit Keller at his home while he was there. Raymond said the 13-year-old saw Keller having sex with the other boy under a blanket.
Investigators interviewed the second boy, who told them he had been having sex with Keller "at least twice a week for two years," Raymond said.
Keller had never been the 13-year-old's teacher, but had befriended him at school, Raymond said. He said there was no indication that force was involved in those incidents.
"He counseled him and became friendly with him and with the family of the victim," Raymond said.
During a search of Keller's house, police found pornographic materials, including computer disks containing child pornography and books about pedophilia, according to Raymond.
Burlington County Superior Court Judge Victor Friedman set bail at $50,000 cash and ordered Keller to refrain from contacting either victim "in person, over the phone, or by letter." He was also ordered not to return to the school. Assistant Prosecutor Brenda Maneri said Keller had already tried to call one of his victims from jail.
Keller showed no reaction as Maneri read off the charges, and he remained silent, with his eyes downcast, as the judge set the conditions of his bail.
As Keller faced Friedman, faculty and staff of Moorestown Friends, where classes are scheduled to begin today, gathered to hear Craig address the issue.
"Everyone liked him. His recommendations were good," Craig said. "We're just horrified that something like this happened."
Keller, from Connecticut, began teaching at Friends in September 1992, following his graduation from Purdue, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology with a minor in mathematics in December 1991.
This would have been his fourth year teaching at Moorestown Friends, Craig said. In addition to teaching in the middle and high school, Keller also advised students.
"This man had no criminal record," said Craig, who told the crowd that no other students were involved. "I just want to reassure you all that if we had suspected anything, we would have taken steps to prevent this."
Teachers who gathered to hear Craig refused to comment and walked quietly back to their classrooms in the 200-year-old school, which is housed in brick buildings off Main Street.
The faculty met later to discuss the best way to alert students and help them through the incident. A staff psychologist will help.
In addition, Craig said he would contact the National Association of Independent Schools hoping to improve the screening of its teachers.
