PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A leader of a New Jersey-based queer rights advocacy group has been accused of hitting a child in his care.
According to an affidavit of probable cause from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, officials were made aware of abuse allegations against Christian Fuscarino, executive director of Garden State Equality, on Nov. 20.
Fuscarino was referred to as the “resource parent” of a boy, and has been accused of hitting that boy in their Neptune City home. The child’s age was redacted.
The affidavit states that on Nov. 9, Fuscarino pulled the boy from his bed and appeared to hit him across the face multiple times, say something, and then hit him again.
Authorities said the boy’s other resource parent brought him to Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center for a forensic interview, but there was no disclosure of physical abuse during the interview.
On Nov. 20, another resident said he witnessed Fuscarino hit the boy and that he intervened. A home recording system captured video of the incident.
At some point after the incident, officials said Fuscarino informed his resource worker that there was an “episode of physical contact” but did not go into further detail.
Afterwards, the Department of Child Protection and Permanency acquired video of the incident and contacted the prosecutor’s office. Fuscarino has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child and assault.
In a statement on its website, Garden State Equality said it has placed Fuscarino on leave. The organization added that it takes the allegations seriously and will allow the legal process to take its course. KYW Newsradio has reached out to Fuscarino's attorney and has not heard back.