Roselle Catholic Teacher Accused of Sex with Student Freed from Jail
By Marisa Iati
A teacher at Roselle Catholic High School accused of having a sexual relationship with a student was ordered on Friday to be released from jail on two conditions. Judge Brenda Coppola Cuba agreed to release Theresa Hrindo, 25, of Linden, under the conditions that she have no contact with the student and that she cannot teach or supervise children. "This whole process for my client, her family and everyone involved is, quite frankly, traumatic," Michael G. Brucki, Hrindo's lawyer, told the judge at Hrindo's first appearance in state Superior Court in Union County. Hrindo was arrested Thursday afternoon and charged with two counts of sexual assault, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of hindering apprehension. Hrindo is accused of having sex multiple times with the student in Union County between December and February, the prosecutor's office said. Prosecutors say she also deleted incriminating photos and files from the student's phone, leading to the hindering charge. Cuba on Friday said the student is between the ages of 16 and 17. Assistant Prosecutor Gregory Fleming asked Cuba to release Hrindo on the two conditions, and Brucki agreed. Brucki told the judge Hrindo had not been in legal trouble before and was a lifelong resident of Union County. Her teaching job at Roselle Catholic was her first job of any kind, Brucki said. He said Hrindo's degree from Kean University is not in teaching and she does not have a teaching license. She has no desire to return to teaching, Brucki said. Brucki said after the hearing that Hrindo's degree was in graphic design, which she taught part-time at Roselle Catholic. "There's a lot more here," Brucki told NJ Advance Media. "I think things will come out." Hrindo graduated from Roselle Catholic in 2010 and Kean University in 2014. The sexual relationship was reported to authorities by the the Archdiocese of Newark, which has jurisdiction over Roselle Catholic. Hrindo was arrested after a three-week investigation. The school suspended Hrindo after learning of the incidents, said Jim Goodness, a spokesman for the archdiocese. Parents are also being notified, he said. "This is certainly something we're very concerned about, and we don't accept this kind of behavior or action," Goodness said. "It's very clearly against all school and diocesan policies, and plus, it's against the law." Hrindo has another court appearance scheduled for May 3. Authorities ask anyone with additional information to call prosecutor's office Detective Brian O'Malley at 908-220-4323.
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