Catholic High School Teacher Accused Of Having Sexual Relationship With Student

click to expand

ELIZABETH, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - A teacher at a Catholic high school is accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with a student.

Theresa Hrindo is a teacher at Roselle Catholic High School. She faces sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child and hindering apprehension charges.

Hrindo, 25, allegedly engaged in sex acts with the student from Dec. 2016 through Feb. 2017, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said Hrindo allegedly deleted "incriminating images and files" from the student's phone.

The matter was brought to the attention of law enforcement by the Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.

In a letter sent home to parents, archdiocese spokesperson Thomas Berrios said the school immediately suspended Hrindo from her position and is fully cooperating with law enforcement.

"We take most seriously our responsibility to provide a safe environment at Roselle Catholic for the young men and women you place in our care, and we believe that the actions we have taken are measured and appropriate at this time," the letter read in part.

Alicia Ruiz's daughter graduated from a nearby Catholic school.

"It's shocking, because then you don't feel safe to send your kids to school," she told CBS2's Jessica Moore. "I thought by putting her at a Catholic high school it was a little bit more secure, a little bit more ethical, a little bit more serious. But then when I hear about this, I'm like this can happen anywhere."

Hrindo's mother said nothing to CBS2 in defense of her daughter Friday night outside their Linden home, where the technology teacher, who also graduated from Roselle Catholic in 2010, was arrested Thursday.

In court, the judge released Hrindo on two conditions: no contact with the student and no returning to the classroom.

Anyone with additional information about the case is asked to call Union County Prosecutor's Office Detective Brian O'Malley at 908-220-4323.

The most serious charge against Hrindo carries a term of up to 10 years in prison, prosecutors said.