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August 18, 2005
Hillsboro soccer coordinator nabbed on sex assault charges
HILLSBOROUGH -- The township recreation soccer coordinator was arrested Wednesday on charges he sexually assaulted two girls during sleepovers, Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne J. Forrest said.
A parent of one of the girls called Hillsborough police earlier this summer saying that Richard Kwaak, 41, sexually assaulted her daughter two years ago. The girl had recently told her mother about the incident, Forrest said.
Hillsborough police and the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit then found a second victim during their investigation.
The girls, now ages 11 and 13, were sleeping over at a friend's house between January and July 2003 when they allege that Kwaak touched them inappropriately.
The incidents did not occur at Kwaak's home, Forrest said. However, Kwaak was a frequent visitor at the home where the sleepovers occurred because both his son and daughter were friends with the people who lived there. It is unclear whether Kwaak's daughter was at the sleepover when the two girls were allegedly assaulted, Forrest said.
The 11-year-old girl told police Kwaak sexually assaulted her more than once. The 13-year-old girl, who now lives out of state, said it happened to her one time.
Kwaak was in Somerset County Jail on $50,000 jail Wednesday evening. He faces one count of first degree aggravated sexual assault, one count of second degree sexual assault and two counts of third degree endangering the welfare of a child.
Kwaak's phone number at his Revere Court home was busy Wednesday afternoon and evening.
Kwaak was the township's soccer coordinator for two years, Hillsborough Township Administrator Kevin Davis said. Davis said Kwaak's alleged victims were not part of the soccer program, which serves up to 500 children, ages 5 to 13.
The township's recreation department decided last week not to continue Kwaak's seasonal employment as the soccer coordinator. He earned $2,500 per season.
"He did not work in a coaching capacity," Davis said. "He administered the program, making sure people had the right shirts, there were enough balls, there were coaches."
Hillsborough Township does not have a mandatory background check for people employed in its recreation department.
"We are in the process of creating a policy," Davis said. "There will be one for the winter programs. This is certainly expediting it."
Forrest declined to say whether Kwaak had any previous convictions. Kwaak is not listed on the New Jersey Sex Offender Internet Registry.
Posted by Nealus at August 18, 2005 08:20 PM
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