IMHO, I think there is a big difference between "revenge" and justice. Why just consider the needs of the sexual predator who plied his sick perversion onto a child? What about the needs of the victim and his family in this instance?

I think it's deplorable to send a message that it's okay for a teacher to masturbate in front of a child in a Jersey City public school if it's your first offense, because your lawyer can convince the judge you really are a nice guy - and it'll cost the taxpayers a load of cash to keep you jailed.

It also costs a lot of money to keep someone in jail and apparently the judge didn't think he was dangerous enough to justify the cost. By rehabilitating people you can accomplish a lot more than just throwing them in jail for revenge.

It's not really a free ride. He has to register as a sex offender, he lost his job, he has to be under supervision for life, and he can't ever teach again, and it will probably be difficult to ever get a job again.

Not like he just skipped out of the courthouse singing and dancing. I don't know that throwing him in jail would have done anything to improve our community except for destroying his life even further.

Sorry - I see NOTHING perfect about a teacher, convicted of a sex crime at a school with a child getting absolutely no jail time. It speaks volumes about how we treat our children in this town's school system. What message are we sending? You can get one free ride as a first time offender? Disgusting.

Link to Story on NJ.com

A suspended teacher at Jersey City's Ferris High School charged with performing a lewd act in front of a 15-year-old boy in a school faculty room has pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a minor, officials said today.

"This was a perfect example of school officials and the prosecutor's office working together to immediately remove a threat from our classrooms," said Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Dill of the guilty plea entered by Peter Riquelme, 41, of Brooklyn, on Tuesday.

The prosecutor said "The victim was a very brave young man. By courageously coming forward a predator has been banished from our schools."

Riquelme, who authorities say masturbated in front of the boy, was originally charged with endangering the welfare of a child, criminal sexual contact, and official misconduct following the March 16 incident at the Downtown school where he taught ninth and 10th grade English and American History, officials said.

He was hired in March 2007, has tenure and earned $51,000 a year, said Jersey City Board of Education spokeswoman Paula Christen.

Riquelme was suspended without pay following his arrest and the Jersey City Board of Education is waiting official notification of his guilty plea before making a final determination on his status, Christen said.

Under the terms of the plea, Riquelme will be required to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law, undergo community supervision for life, be evaluated to determine if he is a repetitive offender, and surrender his teaching certificate, Dill said.

He will also be barred from public employment for life, said the prosecutor, noting that as a first-time offender, Riquelme faces no prison time.

Riquelme will be sentenced by Hudson County Superior Court Judge Sheila Venable on Jan. 14 in the Hudson County Administration Building on Newark Avenue in Jersey City.

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They do not put in nationality of ethnic groups as well, so if future criminals are of Hispanic extraction it will not be listed because it is not classified as race at least on the U.S. census for 2010.

I thought the hand in pocket picture was a nice touch.

he should be arrested for the sweater vest alone.

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Unfortunate NY Post-like headline today...

Well said. I hope that they realize someday that no one is offended by a BOLO (Be On the Lookout) that includes a detailed description that may help the police.

even if this man is innocent, a google search of his name will bring up this story until the end of time. his professional life is over.

the Jersey Journal has no problem publishing the names and photos of alleged sex offenders, but can they include pertinent details (like race) in the description of an at-large robbery/assault suspect? of course not.

Yes, kids lie. Teenagers especially. I have a friend who had this happen to him, with girl students who perhaps had a crush or something. Anyway it ruined his career! And he didn't do anything!

That being said I think it is pretty horrific that the Jersey Journal is so eager to publish a picture of this "alleged" offender (remember innocent until proven guilty!) and that GrovePath jumps in with that GIANT pic of the PERVERT!!! OH MY GOD!!!!!

I seriously doubt that a hetero perv would get the same treatment. Anybody remember the movie "The Children's Hour"?

I thought they stopped doing that sort of stuff long ago.

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Just keep in mind. Some kids lie and make up stories.

At an intermediate school in staten island, a group of girls lied about a teacher looking down their shirts. It was a complete fabrication and they only did it because they did not like this particular teacher.

It's disturbing to know that my kid attends this school and is possibly exposed to this guy. I hope they do a thorough investigation and talk to all the kids he had contact with. It's bad enough kids have to deal with a poor education, gangs and violence, now they have to watch out for the people in charge of their care.

Ferris High School teacher Peter Riquelme, 41, of Brooklyn, has been charged with masturbating in front of a 15-year-old boy at the school.
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Jersey City teacher charged with masturbating in front of 15-year-old, officials say

By Michaelangelo Conte/The Jersey Journal
March 17, 2010, 6:46PM

A special education teacher at Jersey City's Ferris High School was arrested today on charges he masturbated in front of a 15-year-old boy in a school bathroom yesterday during the school day, officials said.

"If this occurred on school premises, it certainly is a very disturbing act," Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said of the allegation against Peter Riquelme, 41, of Brooklyn.

Riquelme was summoned to the Jersey Board of Education's central office today and arrested on the charges of aggravated criminal sexual contact, child abuse, endangering the welfare of a child and official misconduct, DeFazio said.

"The allegation is that this happened in a bathroom that required a key to open and the teacher opened it for the student to use and then followed him in and engaged in the sexual act on himself in the presence of the juvenile," DeFazio said.

The boy left the bathroom and shortly afterward told one of his teachers about the incident, DeFazio said.

This morning a judge signed a warrant for Riquelme's arrest after the investigation by Jersey City police, the state Division of Youth and Family Services, and the Special Victim's Unit of the prosecutor's office, DeFazio said.

The official misconduct charge alone carries a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison upon conviction.

At a hearing in Superior Court, Riquelme's bail was set at $75,000 cash or bond. The judge also barred him from unsupervised contact with children other than his own. It's not clear if he posted bail.

School officials said Riquelme will now report to Central Office at Claremont and West Side avenues pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.

He was hired in March 2007, has tenure and is paid $51,000 a year, said district spokeswoman Paula Christen.

Riquelme is not charged with touching the boy, but rather with having sexual contact with himself in the presence of the minor. It's not clear if the victim was a special education student.

(not a JC guy...a Brooklynite)


Jersey City teacher charged with masturbating in front of 15-year-old, officials say

By Michaelangelo Conte/The Jersey Journal
March 17, 2010, 6:46PM

A special education teacher at Jersey City's Ferris High School was arrested today on charges he masturbated in front of a 15-year-old boy in a school bathroom yesterday during the school day, officials said.

full JJ story