High School Dean Tried To Meet Teen For Sex In Hudson County: Prosecutor

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ —A high school dean of seniors was fired this week after, according to the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office, he arranged to meet someone "who he believed to be a teenager, for sex in Harrison."

Didier Jean-Baptiste, 54, of Jersey City — a dean at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark —was charged Thursday with one count of second-degree luring by attempt and third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child.

After Jean-Baptiste was arrested at his home in Jersey City Thursday, prosecutors said, he was taken to the Harrison Police Department and then released on a summons "based on the recommendation of a risk assessment tool in accordance with Criminal Justice Reform."

Jean-Baptiste is tentatively scheduled to appear in court on Monday, Oct. 24.

The person he allegedly arranged to meet was not a student at the school, prosecutors said.

The school posted a statement on their social media Tuesday saying, "Early this morning, we were made aware of inappropriate conduct off of school property involving an adult lay member of the St. Benedict's Prep community. This event did not involve any St. Benedict's students."

They added, "Immediate action was taken to terminate the employment of this individual as well as ensure law enforcement was apprised."

The school said that all adults at the school participate in programs each year to identify "warning signs of harassment of any kind."

They said counseling will be available to any student or staff member needing it.

Anyone wishing to report a sex crime should call the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) at 201-915-1234.