A Bayonne High School teacher has been charged with groping a colleague earlier this year, the Bayonne Police Department announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Ricardo Rodriguez, 61, of Bayonne, was charged with criminal sexual contact, according to Police Capt. Eric Amato.
He taken into custody at 9:40 a.m. yesterday at police headquarters stemming from an investigation into a reported incident that occurred on January 9th.
On January 10th, the 51-year-old victim, an employee of the Bayonne Board of Education and assigned to Bayonne High School, reported that Rodriguez had touched her inappropriately the day before at about 7:55 a.m.
According to the victim, after unlocking a door for Rodriguez inside of Bayonne High School, he reached out and hugged her. While doing so, Rodriguez allegedly grabbed her buttocks and chest without her consent.
The Bayonne Police Department Detective Bureau immediately investigated the incident, which led to Rodriguez being charged accordingly.
Rodriguez, a former high school football head coach, has worked for the district since February 1997 and earned a salary of $109,330, according to public records.
Bayonne Superintendent of Schools John Niesz told HCV that Rodriguez “has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.”
“Please be advised that on the advice of the Bayonne School Districts attorney we cannot – as a matter of policy – comment on any criminal/legal proceedings involving an employee,” he added.
“We take any accusation of impropriety very seriously and take every precaution to ensure our employees and students are always safe.”
