High School Football Coach Accused in Sex Assault of Student

The teacher at Lyndhurst High School had a sexual relationship with a girl while she was a student at the school, authorities said

The head football coach at a Bergen County high school was arrested Wednesday, accused of having a sexual relationship with a girl while she was a student at the school, authorities said.

Scott Rubinetti, 39, of Nutley, N.J., was a newly hired teacher and head football coach at Lyndhurst High School when he allegedly had sex with the student between 2009 and 2010, said Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli.

The girl was a senior at the school at the time.

The relationship was recently discovered by a teacher at the high school, who reported it to the superintendent, said Molinelli. The superintendent in turn alerted police and the prosecutor's office. 

The victim confirmed the sexual conduct to investigators. She was also allegedly told by Rubinetti to lie to law enforcement if questioned about their relationship.

Rubinetti began working at the school in 2009, teaching physical education, Fitness for Life and health, in addition to coaching football, authorities said.

Rubinetti was charged with sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child and witness tampering.

He was jailed Wednesday with bail set at $150,000, and ordered to have no contact with the victim or the victim's family.

It wasn't immediately clear if Rubinetti had an attorney. A message left with the Lyndhurst Schools superintendent's office was not immediately returned.

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