Kearny School IT Employee Charged with Sexual Assault of Female Students

An employee of Hudson Arts and Science Middle School in Kearny has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting two female students under the age of 13.

According to Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez, Omer Sogutcu, 36, of Garfield, was arrested on Thursday, June 5, 2025, by the Special Victims Unit of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. He is charged with two counts of sexual assault by contact and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

The alleged incidents occurred in October 2024 at the Kearny-based charter school, where Sogutcu works as an information technology professional. Authorities state the two students reported that Sogutcu exposed himself and asked them to engage in sexual conduct.

He was arrested at the school district’s office in Fair Lawn and transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility, where he is being held pending his first court appearance.

Prosecutor Suarez credited the Special Victims Unit and the Kearny Police Department with the investigation and arrest.

“The above charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” stated the Prosecutor’s Office.