Old Bridge Special-Ed Elementary Teacher Accused Of Abusing Student, 8

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — A teacher at an Old Bridge elementary school was arrested and is accused of abusing one of her special-needs students, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Acting Old Bridge Police Chief Donald Fritz, Jr. said Tuesday.

The teacher is Christine Paduch, 42, who is a special-education teacher at Madison Park Elementary School.

The student is an eight-year-old boy.

According to the criminal complaint obtained by Patch, the alleged incident happened last Wednesday, April 12: During the school day, the teacher "grabbed the (child) in an aggressive manner with two hands on the victim's wrist and leg and threw the victim under her desk."

This was witnessed by two other Madison Park staff members. The New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) was contacted and it was a DCCP employee who contacted the Middlesex County Prosecutor the next day, April 13, and asked them to investigate what they called "allegations of abuse."

The boy sustained injuries to his arm, and the injuries were photographed. The boy also said his teacher took his sweatshirt and made him wear it backwards over his face, for reasons that were not explained in the criminal complaint.

Paduch was arrested without incident and charged with one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. The Middlesex County Prosecutor said she "inappropriately handled" the student.

She had her first court appearance Tuesday and has since been released from custody with conditions.

The investigation is active and anyone with information is asked to call Detective Hall of the Old Bridge Police Department at (732) 721-5600 X 3202 or Detective Ayala of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732)745-4194.