ROSELLE, NJ — A school bus aide in Union County is accused of targeting and sexually assaulting two autistic children who rode on his bus, said Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel.
Federico Nicasio Genao, 69, of Paterson, has been charged with two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child by sexual contact and two counts of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact.
The charges stem from a report made to the Roselle Police Department on April 7.
An investigation found Genao, who was a school bus aide, "appeared to target teenage autistic victims who rode on his school bus, one of whom was non-verbal."
Genao was arrested on April 10 at the Roselle Police Department and is currently being held in the Essex County Jail.
"The allegations in this case represent a profound betrayal of trust and a direct threat to the safety of our most vulnerable residents. While we have secured an arrest, our investigation remains very much active as we work to ensure that every individual impacted by these actions is heard and supported," said Daniel.
In a joint statement, Roselle Police Chief Helder Freire and Mayor Donald Shaw stated, "This arrest is the result of dedicated, coordinated work by the Roselle Police Department Detective Bureau and the Union County Prosecutor’s Office. We commend the detectives whose diligence and professionalism brought this case forward. Our different abilities community is at the heart of Roselle. We stand with them, we protect them, and we will continue to pursue justice with the care and commitment they deserve."
This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with further information about Genao is urged to contact Roselle Police Detective Aaron Silva at 908-380-9943.
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