Man arrested for sexual assault in bernardsville

BERNARDSVILLE, N.J. – Teodoro R. Velazquez, age 68, of Anderson Hill Road, Bernardsville was arrested in relation to a sexual assault of a minor that occurred in Bernardsville, announced by acting Somerset County Prosecutor Thomas Chirichella, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor, and Bernardsville Chief of Police Kevin J. Valentine.

An investigation was conducted by detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit and the Bernardsville Police Department after receiving information from the 14 year old victim in June of 2021, who alleged that she was sexually assaulted from the ages of 6 to 9 years old by Teodoro Velazquez numerous times between 2013 and 2017 in Bernardsville.

As a result of the investigation, Velazquez was arrested without incident on March 23 by investigators and charged with 1st degree aggravated assault, 2nd degree sexual assault and 3rd degree endangering the welfare of a child. Defendant Velazquez is being held in the Somerset County jail pending a detention hearing.

Acting Prosecutor Chirichella, Chief Fodor and Chief Valentine request anyone with information relating to the sexual assault to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit at (908) 231-7100 or the Bernardsville Police Department at (908) 766-0037 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

277160748_1586720331711812_3617603077867 — Teodoro R. Velazquez, age 68

Note: Charges are merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.