The athletic director of Holy Redeemer High School has been placed on administrative leave amid allegations that he has engaged in “inappropriate conduct.”
A statement from Holy Redeemer Principal Colin Martinson notified parents and guardians that the school’s athletic director, John Patrick Aquilina, had been placed on leave effective Monday. The statement contained no details about the cause of the decision to place Aquilina on leave and Martinson asked parents and guardians to direct all questions about sports, scheduling, and transportation to him.
Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce and Wilkes-Barre Police Chief Michael Boyle confirmed in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon that they had received complaints alleging Aquilina had engaged in “inappropriate conduct.” They stated that detectives from the police department and district attorney’s office were investigating the allegations with assistance from the FBI.
The statement cautioned that the investigation remained in its “very early stages” and that “officials have not confirmed the allegations.” It pledged to make more information available to the public as the investigation progresses.
Holy Redeemer Athletic Director John Patrick “J.P.” Aquilina as pictured on Holy Redeemer’s website.
Eric Deabill, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Scranton, referred to Martinson’s statement when contacted. He declined further comment, citing a policy against discussing personnel matters.
When asked in a follow-up request for comment whether the diocese would cooperate with law enforcement, Deabill wrote that the diocese has a policy to “always cooperate fully with all civil investigations” and later indicated the diocese had the same cooperation policy toward criminal investigations.
An hour and 16 minutes after sending an initial request for comment to Aquilina’s email address and 30 minutes after it sent a follow-up request, The Citizens’ Voice received an automated email from Aquilina indicating he was out of the office and unable to respond to messages. The message said to contact Holy Redeemer.
Holy Redeemer Main Office did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Aquilina did not immediately respond to calls made to a phone number that he has previously used.