Burlington County prosecutors say an assistant football coach and teacher's aide at Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount Holly has been charged with firearms violations and witness tampering.

They say Andrew Pade, 40, gave some students a ride to a football game on Oct. 10. That's when a student allegedly saw some of the students playing with a handgun during the junior varsity football game a day earlier. The school was closed the day of the incident due to a state holiday.

An investigation conducted by the Mount Holly Township Police Department revealed Paden had transported some of the students to the game and had given permission for them to be in his vehicle during the game.

Authorities say Paden, of Willingboro, went to the home of one of the students after to try to convince him the handgun was fake. They say he tried to pressure one of the students to lie to investigators out of concern that he might lose his job. Paden has been placed on administrative leave.

Prosecutors say he was released after being processed at the Mount Holly Township Police Department.