johnmercado.jpg

John Mercado, 52, of Jersey City was arrested and charged with multiple sexual crimes towards underage boys.

This story has been updated to reflect new information.

A long-time Jersey City youth baseball coach has been charged with molesting seven boys over the past three decades, authorities said today.

John Mercado, 52, of Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City, was charged Friday with multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault by contact, aggravated criminal sexual contact, endangering the welfare of a child and child abuse, Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Debra Simon said.

Simon said that Mercado molested the boys while working at various local schools and as a youth sports coach.

Mercado appeared at Central Judicial Processing today, where Judge Margaret Marley said Hudson County Superior Court Judge Mitzy Galis-Menendez had ordered him not to attend any youth activities and to have no contact with anyone under 18.

A recreation coach familiar with Mercado said that among the leagues Mercado coached were the Pershing Field Babe Ruth League and in the Hudson County CYO League. Mercado also ran summer baseball camps. The coach, who did not want to be named, said he doesn't believe Mercado has been involved in Jersey City for the past few years.

Pershing Field Babe Ruth President Joe Napolitano said it has been at least 15 years since Mercado coached for the league.

Simon would not release the names of the schools Mercado worked at or any other information concerning the case.

"We are not releasing any other information at this time," said Simon. "Whether or not that information is forthcoming is yet to be seen. The investigation is ongoing."

According to his profile on LinkedIn.com, Mercado is an administrative assistant and athletic director at Elysian Charter School in Hoboken, where he also coaches track and basketball. His profile says he was a computer teacher at Hoboken Catholic Academy from 1998 to 2004.

"The news that has come out today about a member of our Elysian community is truly shocking and disturbing," Elysian Director Harry Laub said in a statement, adding that the school will hold a meeting for our parents tonight in the Rue Gymnasium at 6:30 p.m.

"The entire Elysian staff will be working sensitively with the children and we have counselors available to talk with the children and answer any questions as needed, Laub said. "We ask the Hoboken community to please support our students, staff and families while we recover from this very difficult situation."

Laub told The Jersey Journal that Mercado will be suspended without pay.

Two victims gave statements to the police, while three other boys were mentioned in the criminal complaint against Mercado. Between 1982 and 1986, Mercado repeatedly performed sex acts on two victims, who were between 8 and 12 years old and students of his at the time.

Mercado confessed to abusing at least four of the boys, according to the criminal complaint.

Mercado's bail was set at $300,000. Anyone is with information is urged to call the Prosecutor's Office at 201-915-1234.

Journal staff writer Jonathan Lin contributed to this report.