Key Takeaways
- A New Jersey Catholic school teacher and coach is facing charges of child endangerment involving a minor student
- Allegations involve sexual electronic communications with a 15-year-old
- The case highlights the risks of digital grooming by authority figures
- Schools must implement and enforce strict communication policies between staff and students
- Civil litigation may expose institutional failures and drive meaningful reform
A private Catholic high school in New Jersey is facing serious scrutiny after one of its teachers and coaches, Rashid Darrisaw, is facing charges following allegations involving a minor student.
Darrisaw, 39, of Haledon, a gym teacher and girls’ flag football coach at DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, New Jersey, faces charges of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Investigators allege he engaged in inappropriate sexual communications with a 15-year-old student.
If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of five to ten years in prison.
What We Know About the Allegations
According to the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation began on March 17, 2026, after a report was made regarding concerning communications between Darrisaw and a student.
Investigators allege:
- Darrisaw engaged in inappropriate electronic communications with a 15-year-old student
- The communications were sexual in nature
- The contact occurred through digital platforms, including social media
Authorities arrested Darrisaw on March 27, 2026. He’s out on bail pending trial under pretrial monitoring conditions.
The details of the communications have not been fully disclosed publicly, but prosecutors allege that the conduct constituted criminal sexual exploitation of a minor through electronic means.
How the Allegations Came to Light
Reports indicate that the student documented the communications and disclosed them to a trusted adult, which ultimately led to a report to school officials and law enforcement.
This sequence of student documentation, disclosure, and reporting is often critical in cases involving digital misconduct, where evidence can otherwise remain hidden.
Digital Grooming and Abuse of Authority
This case reflects a pattern that continues to emerge across the country: grooming through electronic communication by trusted adults.
Teachers and coaches hold positions of authority and influence. When those roles are abused, it often follows a familiar trajectory:
- Initial communication that appears harmless
- Increasingly personal or private interactions
- Gradual escalation into sexualized conversations or content
The use of texting and social media platforms allows perpetrators to bypass traditional safeguards and communicate with students outside of supervised environments.
Institutional Responsibility and Oversight
DePaul Catholic High School, which operates under the Diocese of Paterson, has stated that Darrisaw was suspended immediately upon learning of the allegations and that the school is cooperating with law enforcement.
However, cases like this raise critical questions about institutional responsibility:
- Were there prior warning signs or complaints?
- Did the school have clear policies regarding staff-student electronic communication?
- Were those policies actively enforced?
- What training and monitoring systems were in place to prevent this type of conduct?
Private and religious schools, like all educational institutions, have a duty to protect students from foreseeable harm including misconduct that occurs through digital channels.
Civil Liability in Cases of School-Based Abuse
While criminal proceedings focus on the accused individual, civil litigation examines the broader institutional context.
Liability for schools exists if:
- Failed to properly vet or supervise an employee
- Ignored complaints or red flags
- Did not implement or enforce adequate safety policies
Civil cases often uncover patterns of behavior and institutional failures that are not fully addressed in criminal court.
For survivors and their families, pursuing a civil case can provide:
- Accountability beyond the individual perpetrator
- Access to information about institutional practices
- A pathway toward healing and systemic change
Speaking With a Sexual Abuse Lawyer About Your Rights
If you or someone you love experienced sexual harassment, abuse, or exploitation by Rashid Darrisaw, you may have a civil case.
Andreozzi + Foote is a civil law firm dedicated to representing survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation in New Jersey and nationwide.
We offer free, confidential consultations to help survivors learn about their rights. This helps them understand their potential legal options and decide what feels right for them.
You deserve to be heard, and our attorneys are ready to listen.
Contact us today.
(866) 858-3790
Photo of Rashid Darrisaw Credit-Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office and homes.com for school
