NJ Teacher Indicted for Sex Assault of Boy, 17

(Trenton, New Jersey) A 29-year-old teacher formerly at The Bridge Academy, Talia Peverada, has been indicted by a grand jury for allegedly engaging in sex with a 17-year-old boy.

She faces charges of four counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.

“Miss Peverada categorically denies that she did anything illegal or improper,” said her attorney, Michael Rogers. “And obviously, we need to take a look at the discovery, and we will begin to mount our defenses to this case once we receive the information.”

Rogers said his client “did not teach this child, she had nothing to do with this child’s education” and noted that “the age of consent in New Jersey is 16. And so I’m not conceding anything here. I just want everyone to know that this is not the typical case, believe me.”

He said there was no allegation that there was any force or coercion in the case.

“So the issue will turn on whether or not there was supervisory or disciplinary control by the defendant teacher over the alleged student,” Rogers said.

As for the thought that where there’s smoke, there’s fire, he said, “A lot of times, there is a lot of smoke. Sometimes that’s all you end up with.”

Peverada is free on $50,000 bail.