FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Caitlin Mota
PHONE: (201) 577-6699
EMAIL: cmota@hcpo.org
DATE: Friday, October 13, 2023

SUBSTITUTE TEACHER CHARGED WITH SEX CRIMES INVOLVING JERSEY CITY STUDENTS

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

On Thursday, October 12, 2023, members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested a substitute teacher on sex crime charges involving two Jersey City students. The crimes occurred at Public School 34 on Kennedy Boulevard on May 15, 2023.

Fayez Yassa, 64, of Jersey City, is charged with two counts of Sexual Assault by Contact in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2b, crimes of the second degree, and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(1), crimes of the second degree. He was arrested at his residence and transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending his first court appearance. Yassa has since been terminated from his position.

Prosecutor Suarez credited the Special Victims Unit with the arrest and investigation, with assistance from the Jersey City Police Department and Jersey City Public Schools. Anyone wishing to report a sex crime should call the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) at 201-915-1234. The above charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).