Essex County Teacher, Chess Club Adviser Charged With Sex Assault Of Student: Officials

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ – An Essex County chess club advisor and high school teacher stands accused of sexually assaulting one of his students, prosecutors announced this week.

Verona High School teacher Matthew Swajkowski, 36, was taken into custody on Friday, Sept. 22, said the office of Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens.

Swajkowski now faces charges of sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and making available an alcoholic beverage to a person under the legal age, prosecutors said.

The student was a chess club member and attended the school where Swajkowski taught, said prosecutors.

The Verona Police Department first received a report of "sexually inappropriate conduct" with a juvenile in July, prosecutors said.

The age of consent in New Jersey is 16, but it's unlawful for anyone whose “legal, professional or occupational status” gives them “supervisory or disciplinary power” over a child who is at least 16 but less than 18 years old to engage in sexual conduct with that child.

The Record of Hackensack reported Wednesday that a judge ruled that Swajkowski will remain detained in jail for the time being.

His next court date is scheduled for Dec. 11.