By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Friday, February 21, 1992
The Record (New Jersey) | 5 Star | NEWS | D03
A former borough fire chief has been charged with sexual assault on a 5-year-old boy, officials said Thursday.
Bergen County Prosecutor John J. Fahy said Joseph D. Schneider of 370 Feronia Way was charged Feb. 13. Schneider, 46, was released after he paid 10 percent of his $2,500 bail.
Mayor Andrew E. Bertone said Schneider was chief of the volunteer Fire Department a few years ago, and that he’s still active in the department. He declined to discuss the arrest.
The complaint, signed by police Sgt. Thomas Farrell, said Schneider touched “intimate parts” of the child. Fahy said the incident occurred between Jan. 25 and Feb. 9, when Schneider took the boy to his basement to show him a military book.
A relative of the boy’s reported the alleged incident to police, and Schneider was arrested about 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 13, Fahy said.
Schneider referred all questions to Brian J. Neary, his attorney. Neary said Schneider pleaded not guilty to the charge Monday.
“We are looking into the situation and hope to act appropriately when all the facts come to light,” Neary said. “He’s a decent man who’s never been in trouble before. And he’s been a community leader. We’ll wait to see the complete scope of the allegation, and we hope to act appropriately.”
Schneider has been a volunteer firefighter for about 12 years, Neary said.
ID: 17369407 | Copyright © 1992, The Record (New Jersey)
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