According to reports, Marcelo Velez, Vice President of Columbia University, was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old at his New Jersey home. Authorities were alerted about the abuse and began investigating the matter, finding that the act was carried out at the Velez residence.
Velez and the child victim's relationship wasn't immediately clear, nor were specific details about the abuse disclosed. Nevertheless, Velez remained at the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance on charges including sexual assault by sexual contact and child endangerment. The Ivy League institution Velez works for said in a statement, "We have placed Mr. Velez on administrative leave and will cooperate fully with law enforcement officials investigating this matter.”
According to the university website, Velez is a licensed professional engineer in New York state and has a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Rutgers University and a business degree from Columbia.
Source: nbcnewyork.com
