Please be advised that the following article contains disturbing content. A former school janitor in New Jersey has been sentenced to eight years in prison for contaminating children’s utensils and cafeteria food with feces, urine, and bleach. Giovanni Impellizzeri, 27, of Vineland, pleaded guilty to second-degree official misconduct and third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material on January 13, as confirmed by Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae.
Initially arrested on October 31, 2023, Impellizzeri faced charges including aggravated assault, tampering with food products, and endangering children’s welfare. Subsequently, he was also charged with possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. The investigation revealed that Impellizzeri had posted disturbing videos and engaged in inappropriate behavior while at work at Elizabeth F. Moore School, targeting students in grades 3-5.
The investigation was initiated by New Jersey State Police following anonymous tips about videos posted on a social media platform. These tips led to the discovery of graphic content showing Impellizzeri engaging in inappropriate acts with school items and endangering students’ well-being. The videos depicted him contaminating food with bleach and bodily fluids, which were later served to the children at the school.
Impellizzeri, who had been a custodian at the Upper Deerfield Township Board of Education since 2019, was closely monitored by health officials to prevent any potential health risks for those who may have consumed the contaminated food. The district took immediate action to sanitize food preparation areas and dispose of any questionable food products. Health authorities determined that the risk of disease transmission from the contaminated items was minimal.
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Anger rippled through the community upon learning of the disturbing actions allegedly committed by a custodian at a local school, as reported by NJ.com. During a recent court proceeding, Assistant Prosecutor Lindsey Seidel questioned the custodian about his intentions regarding the placement of bodily fluids on food and items within the school, to which he reportedly confirmed his intent to harm the children. Shockingly, the individual also acknowledged possessing graphic videos on his cellphone depicting child sexual abuse, some involving very young victims. The custodian is slated to receive his sentencing on March 28, with his appointed public defender yet to provide a statement in response to queries from PEOPLE. In cases of suspected child abuse, individuals are urged to reach out to the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit www.childhelp.org for support and guidance. Confidential assistance is available round-the-clock in over 170 languages. For those impacted by sexual abuse or seeking help for themselves or others, texting “STRENGTH” to 741-741 connects individuals to a certified crisis counselor via the Crisis Text Line. For more details, please refer to the original article on People.