By: Richard L. Smith
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced the arrest of a Bayonne High School teacher, Joseph Mingoia, 68, of Bayonne, following an incident that occurred on school property on January 22, 2024.
The teacher is facing charges after allegedly striking a student during an attempt to break up a fight.
Mingoia is charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a second-degree crime, and simple assault, a disorderly persons offense.
He was taken into custody at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Secaucus and has been released pending a court appearance scheduled for March 22, 2024.
The incident unfolded when two students got into an altercation at the school. While several staff members were attempting to intervene, Mingoia reportedly struck a female juvenile in the head with a closed hand.
He has been placed on administrative leave since the occurrence of the incident.
The arrest was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Bayonne Police Department.
While the charges against Mingoia are serious, it is important to remember that they are merely accusations at this stage, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.