Man Used Belt On Kids In Bergen County, Causing Injuries: Prosecutor

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A Bergen County man was arrested on Tuesday for abusing three children, causing "significant bodily injury" to one, officials said.

Paul J. Gomez, 40, of Garfield was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, said Bergen County prosecutors.

On Sunday, prosecutors say, the New Jersey Division of Child Protection & Permanency contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit about an alleged
physical assault of three children at a Fairview home.

An investigation determined that Gomez "endangered" the children on June 16, causing one of them to be significantly injured.

Gomez was arrested in Paramus and charged with three counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, one count of third-degree aggravated assault, and two counts of simple assault, a disorderly persons offense, prosecutors said.

A complaint in the case said that Gomez used a belt to strike at least one child's thigh. It also says the children had visible injuries, and that Gomez made an admission in the case.

Gomez was taken to the Bergen County Jail, prosecutors say.

He made a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court, then was released to await further court action, prosecutors said.