RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTOR ACCUSED OF MOLESTING 14-YEAR-OLD STUDENT IN PATERSON — FACES UP TO 15 YEARS

A Bergen County religious instructor has been arrested for allegedly sexually touching a 14-year-old student, according to the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office.

Haitham Altartir, 62, of Elmwood Park, was taken into custody Thursday following a tip from Paterson Police, which triggered an investigation by the Prosecutor’s Special Victims Unit.

Authorities say the incident occurred on May 14 in Paterson, where Altartir was serving as a religious teacher to the victim. He is accused of "unlawfully touching an intimate part of a 14-year-old child."

Altartir is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated criminal sexual contact. He was released the same day on pre-trial monitoring.

If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison for the endangerment charge and 5 years for the sexual contact charge.