Daytop-Mendham teacher charged in sex assault on resident
MENDHAM – A teacher at Daytop Village, a residential treatment facility for teenagers with substance abuse and behavioral problems, has been charged with having sex with an 18-year-old male undergoing court-ordered treatment at Daytop.
Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Borough Police Chief Pasquale Libertino on Friday announced the arrest of Donna D. Peirce-Faley, 28, of Pompton Lakes, on one count of sexual assault.
A criminal complaint filed in Superior Court, Morristown, charges Peirce-Faley with sexual assault by engaging in acts of oral sex and intercourse with the male, while he was on probation and she had supervisory power over him because of her professional and occupational status.
Peirce-Faley was arrested on Thursday and the complaint says the incident occurred on Nov. 1 in Mendham Borough.
“Defendant allegedly engaged in oral sex and sexual intercourse with an 18-year-old male while he was a court-ordered resident at Daytop New Jersey-Mendham, a drug treatment facility, and defendant was a teacher at the facility,” the release said.
An arrest affidavit said the Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday received a report that the male had disclosed to someone that he engaged in sex acts with Peirce-Faley while he was a Daytop resident. He told authorities that about one month ago, a flirtatious relationship started between him and the teacher. He alleged they kissed in a Daytop classroom and on Nov. 1 had sex, the affidavit said.
Peirce-Faley allegedly admitted to police during an interview that she kissed and had sexual conversations with the 18-year-old and had sex one time with him on Nov. 1, the affidavit said.
The release said an investigation was initiated by information that was forwarded to police by Daytop New Jersey-Mendham, which is fully cooperating. In response to the allegation Daytop released the following statement:
“Daytop New Jersey takes these allegations very seriously, which is why we immediately suspended the teacher without pay and promptly notified the authorities including the Mendham Borough Police, Division of Human Services, Division of Children’s Protection and Permanency and its Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit, and the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services’ Office of Licensing.”
The statement continued: “Our number one concern is and has always been the safety of the young people in our care. Since we first began serving teenagers and their families back in 1992, we have always prided ourselves on ‘helping to save lives’ and have done just that for countless young people.”
“Our Human Resources Department conducts exhaustive background checks on all prospective employees. Our supervisors have extensive experience in providing close oversight and guidance aimed at ensuring the provision of quality care to all those receiving our services,” the statement said.
Daytop officials from Mendham have frequently been involved over the years in Morris County summits and informational gatherings designed to combat the use by young people of heroin, painkillers and other drugs. Last month, Gov. Chris Christie appointed a top official of Daytop’s Pittsgrove facility to represent the treatment team component on his “Facing Addiction” Task Force.
Peirce-Faley is being held in the Morris County jail on $150,000 bail. If unable to post it, she will have a bail review in Morristown on Monday by a Superior Court judge.
The investigation was led by Detective Supervisor Anne-Marie Truppo and Detective Jazmin Munoz-Felder of the prosecutor’s office and Mendham Detective Christopher Irons. Anyone with information is asked to call Truppo at 973-285-6200.
Staff Writer Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@njpressmedia.com