Former High School Teacher Charged With Sexual Assault In Mercer Co.

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A former teacher of Steinert High School in Hamilton was charged after authorities said he had a sexual relationship with his student between 1998 and 2000.

Joseph DePuglio, 76, of Ewing was charged with one count of second-degree sexual assault and one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri said Wednesday.

The student, who is now an adult, reported the allegations to Ewing police at the end of 2022 and an investigation ensued, Onofri said.

DePuglio is accused of having a sexual relationship with the student while having supervisory or disciplinary power over her, Onofri said. The offenses occurred at DePuglio’s Ewing residence between the years of 1998 and 2000 when he was actively employed as the student's teacher at Steinert High School, Onofri said.

DePuglio was taken into custody on Monday following an investigation conducted by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Special Victims Unit and the Ewing Police Department. He was released pending future court proceedings.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Prosecutor’s Detective Jonathan White at (609) 989-6399 or Ewing Detective Andrew Condrat at (609) 882-1313 ext. 7583.

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