NJ Supreme Court Rules In School Trip Sex Case
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled the state cannot prosecute two high school employees for sexual assaults on students that allegedly occurred during a class trip to Germany.
The 6-0 decision issued Wednesday overturns rulings issued by a state Superior Court judge and an appellate panel.
The lower courts had found Artur Sopel and Michael Sumulikoski could be charged with sexual assault in New Jersey because they had assumed their position of trust in the state, even though the alleged acts took place outside the state's borders.
The Supreme Court's ruling dismisses 14 out of the 25 counts against the men.
Sopel was vice president of operations at Paramus Catholic High School and Sumulikoski was a substitute teacher and assistant football coach during the 2011 trip.
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