Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of AMY DOVIDIO (DOB: 5/18/1977; married; teacher) of Pompton Plains, NJ, on charges of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated criminal sexual contact and criminal sexual contact. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Acting Chief Matthew Finck and the Garfield Police Department under the direction of Chief Richard Uram.
On Saturday, February 10, 2024, the Garfield Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding the report of a teacher engaging in sexual conduct with a student at Garfield Middle School. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Garfield Police Department revealed that AMY DOVIDIO, while previously employed by the Garfield School District as a teacher, had engaged in sexual conduct with a student who was between the ages of 13 and 17. The sexual conduct occurred within the Garfield Middle School, at a private residence in Cedar Grove, NJ, as well as within a vehicle at unknown locations in Bergen, Essex, and Passaic Counties.
As a result of the investigation, on Friday, February 16, 2024, AMY DOVIDIO was arrested in Paramus, NJ and charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2a(2)(b); second-degree sexual assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2c(3); second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a; third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-3a; and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-3b. DOVIDIO was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending her first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, NJ.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would like to thank the Garfield Police Department and the Pequannock Township Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.
