Menachim A. Chinn, 40, has been detained at the Mercer County Correction Center since his April 20 arrest
EAST WINDSOR -- A Jewish teacher and youth minister accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy five years ago is facing new charges after a second victim came forward, authorities said Wednesday.
Menachem Chinn Menachim A. Chinn, 40, who has been in custody since his April 20 arrest, was charged Tuesday with additional counts of endangering the welfare of a child and sexual assault.
Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri said a second victim came forward following news reports of Chinn's arrest.
The victim, who is now an adult, told police that Chinn had inappropriate sexual contact with him at Chinn's East Windsor home numerous times between July 2010 and May 2011, authorities said. Chinn had previously been his teacher and youth group leader.
The initial charges were from a 2012 incident involving a 12-year-old boy, authorities said. The boy, now 16, alleged that Chinn inappropriately touched him, authorities said.
The boy was at Chinn's house when he told him to go upstairs to his room, according to documents read in court. Chinn then came into the room in a robe, massaged the boy and sexually assaulted him, the documents said.
His attorney said in court that Chinn was in the room at the time, but didn't sexually assault the boy.
He called Chinn a "deeply spiritual and religious man," saying he is well-regarded in the community and has been working with young kids as a youth leader for 18 years. Prosecutors said that before the allegations surfaced, the boy's family had also held Chinn in high regard.
A judge ordered Chinn to remain detained at his hearing April 26.
Chinn most recently taught Judaic studies to seventh- and eighth-grade boys at Shalom Torah Academy in Marlboro in Monmouth County. A woman who answered the phone Wednesday said the school would not be commenting at this time and could not say whether he is still employed.
Chinn was also the director of the Twin Rivers chapter of the National Council of Synagogue Youth in East Windsor, but a spokeswoman for the organization said that he is no longer employed by NCSY.
"The safety and well-being of NCSY participants is the organization's utmost priority at all times," Avital Chizhik said. "NCSY has zero tolerance whatsoever for improper or illegal behavior."
She said NCSY was not aware of any complaints against Chinn, who was affiliated with the organization for 15 years.
The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Mercer County Prosecutor's Detective Alicia Bergondo at 609-989-6568 or East Windsor Police Detective Thomas Meyer at 609-448-5678.
Staff writer Anna Merriman contributed to this story.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.