Marcello Velez, 56, was arrested on Monday and charged with aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault by sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child
A vice president at Columbia University is facing charges of sexually abusing a child under the age of 13.
Marcello Velez, 56, was detained on Monday and charged with aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault by sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child.
The Woodcliff Lake Police Department received a tip that Velez was engaging in sexual acts with the underage child Sunday while in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office shared in a release.
A joint investigation by the two agencies found that the sexual acts had occurred at Velez's home in Woodcliff Lake.
He is currently being held in the Bergen County Jail while awaiting trial.
The relationship between Velez and the minor is not presently known.
Columbia's website states that Velez is the Vice President for Manhattanville Development at the university.
Columbia's website states that Velez is the Vice President for Manhattanville Development at the university. The university could not be immediately reached for a comment
'He serves as the University's point person on all aspects of development, design and construction of the University's 6.8 million sq. foot Manhattanville in West Harlem campus expansion,' the website reads.
Velez has been at the university since 1995 under a number of titles, with his prior position being the Associate Vice President for Capital Management for the Morningside Campus.
He has been with Columbia's Manhattanville Development Group since 2007.
Columbia could not be immediately reached for a comment.
