eastside high school scandal

But over here, you're like a god.". In response to questions raised by our faculty and community, we held a Town Hall on Wednesday August 16. "It was like he offered me heaven," Ortiz said. *Eastside girls team out of states, multiple suspensions announced. He has won more than a dozen national journalism awards and is a four-time Pulitzer finalist. A big shakeup happened at Eastside Catholic after two principals were fired and 13 faculty members quit in protest. *Fired coach wonders: How did I become guardian for 7-foot Nigerian player? (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com). 3 Ghosts (24-5 . "We would come back from the theater or wherever and we found that woman on the ground many times," Esteban said. Father Heric and the board co-chairs told teachers, the principals were fired due to restructuring. The school serves the city's Ironbound neighborhood. State Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex) called on Attorney General Christopher Porrino to investigate Paterson Eastside. But the player stayed several months, and it was Lyde -- the Eastside girls coach -- who provided money for school uniforms and other living expenses, according to the employee, who asked not to be identified for fear of punishment from Paterson officials. 2023 Cox Media Group. That meeting took place almost one year to the day after the Paterson Board of Education approved disciplinary action against five employees including the termination of Eastsides athletics supervisor, Gregory Cooper; the removal of the head coach of the boys team, Juan Griles; and the suspension of the head coach of the girls squad, Ray Lyde Jr. I think Paterson is ready to move on, said Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly, a former football and baseball coach at Eastside, who now coaches Hackensack High School's football team. But their jobs dont cover all the bills, Andrea said, so when her mother gets home after her Friday night shift, she prepares the pupusas, then steals an hour of sleep before selling them Saturday morning with Andreas 14-year-old sister. VIDEO: Eastside Catholic HS teachers quit. Griles, Ortiz said, refused to stop for food after practice even after he repeatedly complained he was hungry. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. ICE officials are in the process of interviewing officials and players. Justice Wallace interviewed 29 people for his report -- 28 Patersonemployees and 1 current player. Editor's note: The following story contains profane language and disturbing content. She applied to Yale in 2017 and paid an . According to videos shared on. He was visiting family in Queens and playing for a club team in a tournament at Eastside. A Q and A about its creation, Decades later, 'Uncle Sam' billboard still sparks debate, VIDEO: President Trump Says 'Blame on Both Sides, I Wait for Facts', Woman loses $29K after being targeted by banking scam with victims in 9 states, Driver killed after car goes off overpass in Georgetown, Puyallup teen considered suicide after school beating, Cheerleader performs solo after team quits before state championships, Kent police investigating kidnapping after car stolen with 2 kids inside. *Homeland Security joins probe, with eye on international pipeline. The punishments imposed against Cooper and the others stemmed from an investigation conducted by a. Fired coach wonders: How did I become guardian for 7-foot Nigerian player? ", Sauls named principal of East Newton Elementary for 2023-24 school year, STOVALL: It's Visions time again and we need your nominations for award winners, Suspect identified in fatal hit and run in Covington found dead of gunshot wound, Newton deputies searching for suspect in armed robbery attempt at convenience store, Club helps spread pickleball popularity in Newton County, Government leaders, professors part of GSU-Newton panel discussion, NEWTON EVENTS: Black History Parade, Daffodil Festival & Symposium, GSU-Newton Daffodil Festival to feature speakers, events, NEWTON EVENTS: Black History Month parade, Lions Club fundraiser, Piedmont Academy girls basketball is back in Final Four again, Eastside baseball sweeps Social Circle in non-region double header on Saturday, Newton alum Elija Godwin wins gold in 400-meter at SEC Indoor Championships, Newton Rams enjoy sweet victory over Pebblebrook, Eastside Eagles' historic season comes to an end after Sweet Sixteen exit, CARROLL: Remembering Karen Carpenter, 1950-1983, CLAUDETTE HARDEN & OLINDA RICARD-HODGE: Its a new year for mental health, PACE: BeReal app offers alternative experience. Documents obtained by NJ Advance Mediashow discourse within the district as scandal barreled out of control. Once students fake their way in, do the parents keep paying to have someone fix the tests they take in class? Classes could be delayed at a high school sports power house after more than a dozen teachers walked off the job. They already have money and they have resources, and they still had to do these things to get into college? asked Andrea, who gets up early to catch a 6 a.m. bus to school, gets home after dinnertime and still has a few hours of homework each night. "It was hell," Ortiz said. "Here in Puerto Rico, I was a top prospect," Selwyn, now 22, said as he sat on a weight bench in his carport adjacent to his grandmother's house. But there are far more serious allegations being probed by agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)s special investigations unit including the alleged activities of a group of men who apparently refer to themselves as The Disciples.. And that consensual sex acts between individuals of consenting age are, well, consensual.. Selwyn tore his ACL in his very first game at Eastside. PATERSON - Basketball players who transferred to Paterson's Eastside High School from Nigeria and Puerto Rico went through a different school registration process than did other students,. I could have done something to help that kid," Olson continued. We had faith. when she graduated from high school. 1 Union City. ", Andrea Aquino (far right) plays in a game with Paterson Eastside this season. Selwyn Rodriguez with Vaqueros de Bayamon in Puerto Rico. Aquino was moved to a Prospect Park apartment with a district employee, an arrangement that "was supposed to last a couple weeks." Association already has promised a rule change in response to international recruiting of players. Furthermore, we have argued (controversially) that school officials caught having sex with students who have attained the age of consent should not be charged criminally. CLICK HERE. He has also written three novels and two column collections. Since our first story on Thornblade ran last week, we have been bombarded with tips related to these various allegations. Based on all the feedback, we realized that both the changes and their timing were a mistake. She appears to be living in the home owned by Shirley Jordan where the Nigerian players also stayed; NJ Advance Media observed Aquino leave the home and head to school the morning of March 21. Ortiz arrived in Paterson unexpectedly in 2012. I would call the school about that.". From news that sixoverseas players were living with the boys coach to the discovery of an international pipeline funneling athletes to Paterson since 2013 and the waves of fallout pounding the school and its officials, here's the reporting of Steve Politi and Matt Stanmyre: *The Fast Break: How final 2 players escaped Eastside. On Saturday morning at the Boyle Heights Beat, a student-run journalism operation, the hot topic was the college entrance cheating scandal and how to craft stories about it for the groups newspaper and radio show. That the athletic directors job.. This news outlet has leaned consistently libertarian in its coverage, and in addition to supporting all manner of consensual sex we have gone so far in the past as to editorialize on behalf of decriminalizing prostitution. The NJSIAA wants to know what rules were broken before it can decide on possible punishment. "I can't say no to this,"Ortiz, now 20, remembers thinking. Boys and girls teams face state tournament bans. Shes hoping for a scholarship to pay her way. The school board president at the time, Chris Irving, had said Johnson was being forced to retire as punishment. She earned a 3.7 grade-point average and graduated in the top 20 of her class, according to an article in the Paterson Times. Directions on submission are attached. *School suspends hoops coach who had 6 overseas players living with him. "I really thought for me, right now, I was supposed to be playing in the NBA. As we previously reported, Thornblade club officials have acknowledged the existence ofserious financial irregularitiesrelated to the operations of the facility including alleged credit card fraud that was first reported earlier this year to the Greenville countysheriffs office. All rights reserved (About Us). Here's why. Meanwhile, the adults linked to Aquino -- Ayala, Lyde, Sparks founder Shane Gerald and Sparks coach Keith Gilchrist -- have not responded to numerous phone calls and text messages asking about the player. And at 6-foot-5, Ejiofor led Eastside to a pair of Passaic County championships, earning scholarship offers from Duke, LSU, Syracuse, Rutgers and several others. This decision was announced in an email that was sent to our community last night. What sort of activities are the feds looking into in connection with all of this? Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). In April 2015, the teenager moved to New Jersey, using a visa issued for a New York-based private school, the document said. ", Said Edwin Rodriguez: "(Griles) basically put my sons' lives at risk putting them in this house with this drug addict. The promises were the same he made Rodriguez, his future teammate. Meanwhile, we have spoken with numerous Thornblade residents who have offered their own intimate insights into the situation. In addition, two Board members have stepped down. She said she learned of the problem after enrolling last summer at Vanderbilt, where she had earned a full athletic scholarship. EHS. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. *State athletics group orders hearing into Eastside. What if she owed money to drug dealers? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); "Americas government since 1989 from top to bottom has been Thornblade Saga: Internal Affairs Investigation At Greenville County Sheriffs Office, Charleston Democrats Fret Over Former Republican Seeking Local Office On Their Ticket, Washington DC Protesters Target Lindsey Graham Over Supreme Court Vote, #SC2018: James Smith Touts Poll Showing His Viability, Bamberg SC Detention Center Officer Arrested Following Alleged Assault On Inmate, Mark Powells Palmetto Past & Present: Lost Confederate Gold, Ron Paul: The Anti-War Movement Roars Back To Life. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. In the meantime, a disclaimer as we have been investigating these reports, we have been cautioned (repeatedly) that controversial behavior is not necessarily the same as criminal behavior. We now recognize that this timing was a mistake, and we are working to rectify the impact it has had. Andrea Aquino was treated like a curiosity in Caacupe, Paraguay, according to local coaches and an article on ESPN.com. "Yesterday we were made aware of an inappropriate post on social media made by students at Eastside High School," Davis told The Covington News. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. But criminally charged? 0:49. The apartment was an attic in a Paterson house without heat or air conditioning, the Rodriguezes said. It happened during the Camden County Tournament Championship game between Camden High School and Eastside High School. It has also prompted an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) although it is not initially clear which component of the multi-faceted situation the feds are focused on. It is, for most players on this island, a dream come true. We came to Eastside on a very big lie.". Got a tip for a story? Community Forums on the 2023-2024 District Budget Tuesday, February 28 th, 6 p.m. - Virtual Forum hosted by the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) CLICK HERE to join the virtual forum.. Wednesday, March 1st, 6 p.m. International High School auditorium, 200 Grand St., or CLICK HERE to watch the live stream.. Thursday, March 2nd, 6 p.m. Eastside High School, 150 Park Ave. or According to our sources, one of these central figures is said to be involved in a forthcoming family court matter although no additional details about that case were provided. These financial allegations have since receivedmainstream media coveragecourtesy ofThe Greenville News. "Over there if you're that tall, you're like a monster. What if they came knocking on the door?". By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism. Eileen Shafer, the schools superintendent, submitted a status report on the 50-step plan to the New Jersey Board of Education during a recent meeting in Trenton. The connection was facilitated by Henry Ugboaja, the director of a prominent camp in Nigeria. *Ugly accusations tearthrough highest levels of school. It is not immediately clear, although some light was recently shed on the case when Greenville, S.C. insurance marketing executiveRick Mathewsissued a statement related to his recent divorce fromJennifer Mathews who runs a yoga and pilates studio in Greenville. She says that, on weekends, her mother makes and sells pupusas outside the South L.A. home they rent from an uncle. Again, though, we are told HSI is looking to question the deputy in connection with its investigation. PATERSON As a result of the basketball recruiting scandal that rocked Eastside High School in 2017, more than 100 Paterson sports coaches this year were required to pass a test about state athletic association rules. "We're not dumb people. More:Paterson picks new AD to replace one fired in Eastside hoops scandal, More:Lawyer says Paterson Eastside coach victim of fake news in hoops scandal, More:Paterson's Eastside loses appeal of ban from state basketball tourney. I didn't really get into her family situation or where she was staying.". Having said all of that, there are criminal statutes on the books which protect minors in this state from being exploited and prevent adults from contributing to their delinquency. According to our sources, the Thornblade saga has elements that could potentially fall under both of these categories. "I would just meet her at the gym and work out from there and take her to her game if need be. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Selwyn Rodriguez and Christian Ortiz started their odyssey in Puerto Rico. Copyright 2023 WPVI-TV. Some kids are saying, Oh, youre only taking two APs. Most found something much closer to a nightmare. Investigators were also looking to interview several current and former students at Eastside High School as well as several current and former employees of the Thornblade Club, per one of our previous reports. *15 questions we still want answered after taxpayer-funded special report. All Rights Reserved. We are not taking away any of the prior successes they have had this year, but we want them to know their actions have consequences.That said, even though we will be making this a growth opportunity for our students, we will also continue to contest the unfounded allegations being investigated by the NJSIAA. Thanks to our long history of educational excellence and deeply felt sense of mission, any change at Eastside Catholic invites high interest from our current and alumnae community. Paterson Eastside High School basketball ban upheld by state commissioner, Paterson names new coach for Eastside girls basketball team, Michael Baker named boys basketball coach as Eastside looks to rebound from scandal, Paterson picks new AD to replace one fired in Eastside hoops scandal, Lawyer says Paterson Eastside coach victim of fake news in hoops scandal, Paterson's Eastside loses appeal of ban from state basketball tourney, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. So far, there has been no official acknowledgement of the seismic, sexually charged side of this investigation by anyone in law enforcement. ", *The key players in Eastside scandal, fallout. He waved sheepishly when his name was called at a press conference for the Vaqueros de Bayamon. Often, the players lived with coaches or other school employees. Under the districts 50-step plan, coaches and other employeeswho allow transfer students to live with them or become their legal guardiansmust report that information in writing to their school principal and the superintendent. The split-level home sits on a congested street, about six blocks from Eastside. And she announced on social media late last month that she verbally has committed to Oregon State, a Top 10 Division 1 program. "Especially because it was our kids who had to suffer the most because of this.. The Paterson Public School District announced wide-ranging penalties to its athletics department. Find NJ.com on Facebook. I slept in the kitchen in front of the stove to stay warm.". He left Paterson midway through the season and returned to Puerto Rico. I think Eileen Shafer has done a tremendous job being proactive on this.. 0:05. He retired at the end of June. Camden was leading Eastside 30-17. He told me he was going to get it fixed, but I couldn't handle that any more. Andrea says her father paints houses and does construction work, and during the week, her mother works a graveyard janitorial job on the Westside. *African players are flocking to top N.J. basketball teams. To recap: We have been looking into three distinct Thornblade-related scandals: 1) Allegations of embezzlement involving the neighborhood golf club, 2) allegations of a prostitution ring (or sex ring) involving several Thornblade residents, and 3) allegations involving an athletics team at a government-run high school in nearby Taylors, S.C. which is said to be somehow connected to the prostitution/ sex ring accusations. Maybe that will ease his regrets. Ayala also told people he was related to Aquino, and the ESPN articlerefers to Aquino having a cousin in New Jersey. A basketball powerhouse is under fire after packing its roster from overseas, leaving players to live with their coach. EHS ASB. Head coaches and assistants in all sports had to take the exam, which also included questions about the city school districts policies and procedures, officials said. She said she had secured a student visa and Form I-20, which had been signed by officials at the North Carolina school. The fight happened Thursday night between Camden High School and Camden Eastside High School. The now-deceased woman who owned the house, the brothers said, was a drug addict who regularly used while they were upstairs. He did not stick around for answers. Griles, the Rodriguezes said, then became a ghost, leaving the brothers to taxi to doctor's appointments in Fort Lee. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association said in a statement Friday it approved the . "The post included a video with offensive content that will not be tolerated. While membership obviously had its privileges, the club apparently had a strict no cancellation policy. She had left Nigeria to play basketball and study at Evelyn Mack Academy in Charlotte, determined to earn a scholarship to an American college. PATERSON As a result of the basketball recruiting scandal that rocked Eastside High School in 2017, more than 100 Paterson sports coaches this year were required to pass a test . On Tuesday, New Jersey's governing body for high school sports levied an unprecedented level of sanctions against the Eastside boys and girls basketball programs, including a two-year state. The game was held at Cherry Hill East High School, a neutral site for both teams. 0:57. She deserves this opportunity. Also, Evans had said the district would seek tenure charges against Griles in an effort to oust him from his teaching position at Eastside. We just had one get into the University of Oregon, but I dont know if theyll be able to afford it, Kelley said. Father Heric remains our chaplain and community liaison. 0:00. Father Heric will go back to being the school chaplain. When the member refused to pay his monthly dues, his wife was reportedly provided with video evidence of her husbands infidelity. unanswered questions in the Paterson basketball scandal, How scandal of overseas hoops players living with H.S. Rodriguez left Puerto Rico in 2011, chasing the promises of a coach from New Jersey -- his own apartment, a spot on an elite high school team and a Division 1 scholarship. As we exclusively reported on July 23, 2020, allegations ofserious financial irregularitiesatthe prestigiousThornblade Clubpromptedan investigationby the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) an agency with broad jurisdictional authority when it comes to cyber-enabled financial crimes.. Griles, as has been the case since NJ Advance Media broke the story two months ago, did not return multiple calls for comment. supports HTML5 video. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? coach blew up. We heard strong opposition to the changes from both the faculty and our community. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. According to videos shared on social media, a male student can be seen escorting a female student with hands behind her back. Thornblade Saga: Could SLED Join Investigation? - Karen Hatch, Eastside Catholic, Marketing and Communications Director. Gregory Cooper, the Eastside athletic director cut loose, says he was an 'easy target' and made a scapegoat. Days after a report detailed that six overseas basketball players were living with a coach, a number of pressing issues remained. The college scouts never came, either. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. We are disappointed that these students engaged in this inappropriate behavior. In January, the NJSIAA representative assigned to monitor Patersons athletics program sent the district a letter saying he had checked the basketball roster against eligibility lists and transfer records. The video recording was sent via Snapchat to a lot of their buddies at Eastside Catholic and other Eastside high schools. On Friday, an unidentified boy, 14, was fatally stabbed during a fight outside Paterson's Eastside High School at dismissal, according to the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office. It was freezing in the house. He came to New Jersey that fall, just before basketball season began, and moved into a house where Griles lived in Somerset. Seattle Times staff reporter A Seattle high school teacher is accused of repeatedly having sex with a 16-year-old student, who reported their encounters to school officials and police last. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. The ongoing drama tied to this upscale Upstate neighborhood which was first reported by this news outlet a week ago has been dominating discussions in the greater Greenville, S.C. area. * Ousted athletic director: There are others at school involved in scandal. ", "Here I am sitting there watching her. The school board terminated two Eastside High School basketball coaches and the school's athletics supervisor on Wednesday night as a result of an investigation into the school's use of foreign players on its team. *NJSIAA announces new hearings to deal with Eastside fallout. That trust has cost her a scholarship to Vanderbilt and forced her back to Africa, where she remains a prisoner of immigration rules. We want to make sure everything is done properly, Castillo said. The first one, a senior named Luis, knew the name of the cheating scandals mastermind. "She was treated like a freak because she was so tall," said a New Jersey coach familiar with Aquino who declined to be identified due to the delicacy of the situation. Aquino, now 18, also has blossomed on the court and will debut this month in ESPN's national Top 10 player rankings for the Class of 2018, according to Dan Olson, a girls basketball recruiting analyst. Ayala promised to be the point of contact and to "make sure Andrea has everything that she needs," the report said. It didn't take long to realize the living situation wouldn't match the promises. Selwyn's knee healed, but his relationship with the coach never did. We have now invited the administrators and faculty to rejoin us on the first day of school. After his departure, the district reduced some of the penalties. Spirit Week Application SIC Call for Nominations SIC Call for Nominations F: contact@email.org Get Directions. Wealthy celebrities and business executives allegedly paid small fortunes to rig their kids SAT scores, bribe coaches and gain entrance to elite colleges, in some cases taking tax deductions for bribes disguised as charitable donations. It took3teachers who risked everything tohelp the final 2 African players escape the mess at Eastside High. The second of five players emerge from the home of head coach Juan Griles a day after he said only two of his Paterson Eastside basketball players are living with him at his home on E. 19th Street. 701. The turmoil weighed on Aquino, who confided in a teacher in 2015, according to the school report. Some turn down out-of-state offers because their parents need them to help out at home, or because of a fear of leaving California at a time of anti-immigrant fervor and uncertainty about whether Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals protections will continue. "Felix had problems in his household, and after that, that girl went from place to place," said a coach familiar with the events in Aquino's life that fall. District officials have not yet announced whether he will return to that role. Even adults gawked and teased her, the ESPN article said. Paterson officials 'highly troubled' by latest bombshell in scandal that began with report of 6 overseas players living in coach's condo and widened to include concerns of human trafficking. Stay tuned we will continue doing our best to sift through the information we are provided related to all of these scandals. According to our sources, most of the initial speculation has centered around Eastside High Schoolin Taylors, S.C. - and perhaps one other nearby school in the South Carolina government-run. "And I said, 'Yes!'. The report painted a grim picture of an emotionally distressed and helpless teenager, thousands of miles from home. A video posted on social media shows fans, players and coaches rushing the court. Ortiz then briefly played collegiately before pursuing a career in music and art. He formerly served as our interim president. Between five and six boys basketball players from Paterson Eastside lived with the team's head coach this season. The school released the following statement Friday afternoon: "We made and announced administrative changes on August 2. Our Upstate sources which include law enforcement officers, prosecutors, attorneys and private investigators, among others have conveyed a remarkably consistent narrative about what allegedly transpired behind the scenes in this exclusive enclave.
Driftless Fish Sticker, Aquarius Lucky Color 2022, Mattera Funeral Home Albion Pennsylvania Recent Obituaries, Efl Championship Prize Money, Articles E