NJ Teacher Sexually Assaulted Child In Arizona: Florham Park PD

FLORHAM PARK, NJ — A teacher was arrested at a North Jersey school after allegedly sexually assaulting a child in Arizona, Florham Park Lt. Scott Bartell said.

Joshua D. Valvano, 33, was arrested at Public School 27 in Paterson by the Florham Park Police Department on April 9, Bartell said. Valvano works as a social studies teacher and soccer coach at the elementary school, but has been suspended without pay.

Florham Park Police became involved in the investigation after being contacted by police in Goodyear, Arizona. Valvano was indicted by a grand jury in Maricopa County, Arizona on April 5, on charges of sexual conduct with a minor, attempt to commit sexual contact with a minor, and continuous sexual abuse of a child in Goodyear.

"Mr. Valvano was arrested on the strength of a criminal warrant from Maricopa County, Arizona," Bartell said.

Valvano previously lived in Florham Park before moving to Paterson where he currently resides, Bartell said. Florham Park police coordinated with Paterson school officials to avoid impacting students and staff with Valvano's arrest.

Valvano was suspended without pay from his teaching job as of April 9, Terry Corallo, a spokesperson for the Paterson school district, told Patch. Parents were notified via a letter and a phone call, and counseling services have been made available to PS 27 students, and former students now attending Don Bosco Technology Academy.

"The safety of our children is our top priority and we are fully cooperating with law enforcement in New Jersey and Arizona," Corallo said.

After his arrest, Valvano was taken to the Florham Park Police Department headquarters before being moved to the Morris County Correctional Facility, where he will stay pending an extradition hearing.

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