Court rules Paramus Catholic teachers can be tried for alleged overseas sex with students

Artur Sopel (left) and Michael Sumulikoski (right)

Excerpt from an article by  Dan Ivers/NJ.com

Two Paramus Catholic High School employees can stand trial for having sexual contact with students, despite the fact that the acts allegedly occurred during a trip overseas, an appeals court ruled this morning. Artur Sopel of River Edge, and Michael Sumulikoski of Elmwood Park, had contended that Bergen County authorities did not have jurisdiction to prosecute them.

The appeals court affirmed a July 2012 ruling by Bergen County Superior Court James Guida, who said that the accusations against Sopel and Sumulikoski would have constituted violations of their agreement to chaperone the students during their trip to Germany in February 2011.

Because the agreement originated in New Jersey, Guida ruled that moving the case forward would not violate international law. Read the full article.