NJ Music Mentor Showed Teen Student Sex Toys, Tried To Kiss, Affidavit Says

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — More information on the Passaic County music teacher who is accused of preying on an underage student has been released.

John W. Bendzak, 72, of West Milford, was arrested on Aug. 12 following a weeks-long investigation into the sexual harassment of a teenager.

According to an affidavit of arrest, Bendzak was the "longtime, private violin instructor and mentor" to the 17-year-old victim.

Investigators said that during the course of their student-teacher relationship, Bendzak would often engage in sexual communications with the victim, discussing nudity, sexual activity, and sexual arousal. The affidavit adds that Bendzak would tell the victim to delete these exchanges periodically.

During the in-person lessons, Bendzak would try to kiss his student, rub them during what he called "touch meditation," and encourage the student to rub him back, arrest documents show.

Bendzak also would show his student sex toys, select revealing clothing for the victim to wear, arrange private meetings, and "express his desire to perform oral sex on the victim," according to the affidavit.

Eventually, when the student tried avoiding Bendzak, Bendzak would consistently call and message the victim.

He was eventually charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and fourth-degree stalking.

If convicted, Bendzak could face up to ten years for the child endangerment charge alone.

Bendzak was released on pretrial monitoring to await court proceedings and is to have no contact with the victim.

The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident or other incidents regarding Bendzak to contact its tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO.