A New Jersey man who works as vice president of facilities for Columbia University has been arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13 in Bergen County, officials said.
Marcelo Velez, 56, of Woodcliff Lake, was arrested Monday and faces charges of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said in a statement Tuesday.
Woodcliff Lake police were notified Sunday that Velez allegedly engaged in sexual acts with a girl less than 13 years old at a home on Saturday morning, the prosecutor’s office said. The girl later told her mother, who reported the incident to police, authorities said. The prosecutor’s office identified Velez’s employment only as “Vice President of University Facilities,” without naming the university. Velez lists Woodcliff Lake as his hometown on his LinkedIn page.
Columbia University’s website says Velez has worked for the university in various roles since 1995. Most recently, he has been overseeing the “development, design and construction of the University’s 6.8 million sq. foot Manhattanville in West Harlem campus expansion,” according to the university’s website.
“We have placed Mr. Velez on administrative leave and will cooperate fully with law enforcement officials investigating this matter,” a spokesperson for Columbia University said in an emailed statement.
Calls to a number listed for Velez at the university were not immediately returned.
Velez is being held at the Bergen County jail pending his first appearance in court.
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Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com.