Valley Central High School employee charged in child sex investigation
Police say the Valley Central High School employee and owner of a local DJ business is accused of sexually abusing a child under 17 in a case dating back to 2019.
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A Valley Central School District employee has been placed on administrative leave after being arrested in connection with a child sex investigation, according to police and school officials.
The Town of Montgomery Police Department announced the arrest of 35-year-old Eric Guarnieri, of Pine Bush, on June 18, following an investigation conducted with the Orange County Child Abuse Unit.
Police said Guarnieri was charged with Criminal Sex Act in the Third Degree, a felony.
According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the charge stems from an alleged sexual encounter involving a child under 17 that investigators say occurred in Montgomery on Nov. 1, 2019.
Police said Guarnieri was arraigned Thursday and remanded to the Orange County Jail on $10,000 cash bail.
Valley Central School District Superintendent Evette Avila wrote in a statement on Friday that the district became aware of the arrest of a district employee and immediately placed that employee on administrative leave pending further review.
“The District is cooperating with the appropriate authorities and will continue to monitor the situation,” Avila said.
The district declined further comment, citing the ongoing police investigation and personnel matter.
News 12 confirmed Guarnieri owns Erock Entertainment, a DJ business that serves New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
Multiple community sources told News 12 that Guarnieri worked as a janitor at Valley Central High School.
Madison Jones, a graduating Valley Central High School senior, said she recognized Guarnieri from school events.
“He’s like the DJ at our school events,” Jones said. “I think it’s just kind of crazy. I think it’s just crazy seeing someone I see a lot at school events get arrested for something like that.”
Melissa, a parent from Walden who declined to provide her last name, said she was surprised by the allegations.
“I would hope it wouldn’t be true,” she said. “You just never know.”
Police said they are not releasing additional details about the investigation in order to protect the identity of the victim.
Guarnieri is tentatively scheduled to return to Montgomery Town Court on Wednesday.
