Alex Farkas, 25, is charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault and two counts each of sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Chief Thomas Bryan of the Edison Police Department.
Alex Farkas Farkas is charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault and two counts each of sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. EDISON - A YMCA camp counselor arrested Monday and charged with sexually assaulting two boys passed a background check before he was hired, according to Scott Lewis, president and CEO of the regional YMCA.
"We are deeply disturbed by the situation involving Alex Farkas, a part-time staff person," Lewis said in a statement emailed to NJ Advance Media on Tuesday.
Farkas, 25, is charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault and two counts each of sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Chief Thomas Bryan of the Edison Police Department.
The alleged assaults occurred earlier this year while Farkas was working for the YMCA, according to the prosecutor and police chief.
Lewis said Farkas, like all YMCA job applicants, submitted to "criminal background checks, sex offender registry checks and reference checks" prior to hiring.
"All of the checks we conducted on Mr. Farkas before he was hired came back clean," Lewis said.
PREVIOUSLY: Edison summer camp counselor charged with sexually assaulting 2 boys
Lewis said the YMCA would review its abuse-prevention policies "to ensure they reflect the latest thinking of experts."
"As part of our internal investigation of this situation, we will work to determine how our policies and/or procedures could be further strengthened," Lewis said.
After his arrest, the YMCA terminated Farkas' employment and barred him from the facilities, Lewis said.
"We are fully supporting the Edison Police Department's investigation, and are reaching out to the families of the alleged victims offering our support," Lewis said.
Farkas is being held at the Middlesex County jail on $300,000 bail.
An Iselin resident, Farkas is the lead singer of the Woodbridge-based band "All New Atmosphere."
Friends took to Farkas' Facebook page on Tuesday to comment on the allegations.
"I hope none of it's true. But either way, I know Alex through music and he is such a great dude with such talent and passion," wrote Jason Fria. "I pray he gets through any of the upcoming struggles and battles he may face due to all this."
Posted by Alex Farkas on Monday, August 6, 2012
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.