A Somerset County man who worked as a security guard at an Elizabeth public school has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a student there, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced Thursday.
Luis Manco, 43, of Watchung is charged with second-degree sexual assault and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
The investigation into Manco started earlier this week, when the Elizabeth Police Department referred the matter to the Prosecutor’s Office’s Special Victims Unit.
The investigation determined that throughout the course of the current school year, Manco allegedly touched the victim inappropriately in various locations at Elizabeth’s iPrep Academy School No. 8 on Court Street.
Manco was arrested without incident at the Elizabeth Board of Education offices Tuesday afternoon, after which state Superior Court Judge Regina Caulfield set bail at $100,000.
He was subsequently lodged in Union County Jail.
Anyone with additional information about Manco’s activities is being urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Detective Joanne Son at 908-527-4696.
Convictions on second-degree crimes are typically punishable by 5 to 10 years in state prison, while third-degree crimes commonly result in sentences of 3 to 5 years.
Update: The Elizabeth Schools Superintendent Olga Hugelmeyer issued the following statement:
"From the moment the School District learned of the allegations against this individual, he was immediately removed and never set foot in a school.,” Hugelmeyer said. “The safety of our children and team members is our priority and informing parents in a prompt manner is of utmost importance.”
A timetable related to the School District’s actions follows:
* On Monday night, June 6, the Elizabeth Police Department notified the Elizabeth School District of the allegation and that it was being referred to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office. This was the first knowledge of any incident the District received.
* On Monday night, school district officials contacted the employee in question and ordered him to not report to school, but instead to report to the Board of Education Offices.
* On Tuesday, June 7th, the employee was immediately suspended without pay and was arrested at the Board of Education offices.
* On Wednesday evening, Superintendent Hugelmeyer contacted all parents of the affected school by recorded telephone message.
* Less than 24 hours passed from the time the allegation was first reported to an adult before the employee was suspended and arrested.