WESTFIELD — A gymnastics instructor who worked at several facilities in Union County has been charged with raping at least two young girls in two states.

Jorge Rodriguez, 34, was charged this week with sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl at the Surgent’s Elite School of Gymnastics in Westfield from September 2015 to March 2016.

Before the charges were filed by the Union County Prosecutor's Office, Rodriguez already was being held in a Boston jail after being accused of raping a child in Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts charges accuse Rodriguez of child rape at his home from 2016 until his arrest in March. A published report after his arrest said Rodriguez began working at a Massachusetts gym in June 2016, not long after he left Westfield.

HAVE INFO?

Authorities ask that anyone with information about Jorge Rodriguez to contact the Union County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit and Detective Ryan Kirsh at 908-965-3814.

Prosecutors say Rodriguez also worked at the Garwood and Roselle Park locations of the Surgent’s Elite School of Gymnastics.

The accusation about the 7-year-old in Westfield was first reported to township police more than six months ago.

New Jersey 101.5 did not know Wednesday whether Rodriguez had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

The owner of the Union County gym schools did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday.

In a separate case in this county, a 31-year-old Elizabeth man pleaded guilty this week to raping a 6-year-old girl at a motel. Jonathan Tavara-Nima was supposed to have been babysitting his victim. The girl's mother hired Tavara-Nima off a babysitter hiring website. He was arrested in May.

Sergio Bichao is deputy digital editor at New Jersey 101.5. Send him news tips: Call 609-359-5348 or email sergio.bichao@townsquaremedia.com.

 

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