Franklin Lakes Child Psychologist Sexually Assaulted Kid: Police

FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ — The director of a Franklin Lakes child psychology clinic sexually assaulted a preteen on more than one occasion, acting Bergen County Prosecutor said Thursday.

Dr. Lorenzo Puertas, 78, was charged with two counts of sexual assault by sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child, Calo said.

He was arrested following an investigation by the Bergen and Passaic county prosecutor's offices and the Franklin Lakes Police Department.

The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office got a report from the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office March 19 that Puertas sexually assaulted a child younger than 13 on more than one occasion, Calo said.

The New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency reported the sexual assault to the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office, Calo said.

The incidents all occurred in Franklin Lakes, Calo said.

Puertas is scheduled to appear in Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack Thursday afternoon.

Psych-Ed Services Inc.'s provides a variety of mental health services to private and public schools. Clients include the Lakewood and Hackensack board of education and the Passaic and Bergen county boards of freeholders.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com