Teacher charged with sexually assaulting 2 students faces 3 new allegations out of Union City

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A teacher charged with sexually assaulting two students is now facing three new allegations during his tenure at Union City High School from 2004 in a lawsuit filed by a former student last week.

Inset photo of Francisco Realpe courtesy of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

“At all times relevant herein, Francisco Realpe used his position of trust and supervision over Jessica Garcia to groom her in order to commence physical sexual contact with her, to commence a physical sexual contact/intercourse with her, to coerce her to engage in sexual contact/intercourse with others, and to utilize her to groom/target other minors and/or students,” the suit, filed in Hudson County Superior Court on Friday, says.

The suit accuses Realpe of routinely engaging in sexually explicit and flirtatious conversations with female students, including Garcia.

“One evening at school after a softball practice in the spring, Francisco Realpe engaged in another such conversation with Jessica Garcia. Afterwards, Francisco Realpe began kissing Jessica Garcia and ultimately took her into his secluded office where he engaged in sexual intercourse with her, which was extremely painful and caused her to bleed profusely.”

In February of last year, Realpe, 44, of Hoboken, was arrested for sexually assaulting a 17-year-old Dickinson High School (his most recent employer) student in 2019 before being charged with sexually assaulting a Union Hill High School student back in 2004.

In the court filing, Realpe is accused of kissing and undressing another student and friend of Garcia’s, identified only as M.C., while they were all watching TV at her home, as well as providing alcohol to Garcia and friends at her home when her parents were away.

During the latter incident, he is accused of locking himself in a room with another minor, identified as M.B.

The lawsuit names the Union City Board of Education, Union City High School, John Does 1-10, and John Does Inc. 1-10.

The seven-count suit alleges sexual abuse of a minor, piercing the corporate veil, naming Realpe’s “business conduit” – Pivotal Developments, LLC – negligence, gross negligence/recklessness, place of public accommodation hostile environment discrimination based on sex, injunctive relief, and punitive damages.

Garcia is represented by Oliver Barry, of the Wildwood-based law firm Barry, Corrado, & Grassi, P.C.

A spokesman for the Union City BOE said the district does not comment on pending litigation.


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