New Jersey Reporter Threatened With Jail After Investigating Ex-Student’s Claims of ‘Repeated & Extensive’ Child Sexual Abuse in Union City Schools
November 18, 2026
This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on November 18, 2026
A local journalist named Leroy Truth took to his Facebook to share that he is being threatened with years behind bars just for looking into claims that a teacher sexually abused a young student for seven straight years in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Leroy Truth isn’t some big-shot reporter but a local reporter with a loud voice and a past that still hurts.
When he was seven, a priest abused him for four years. He says that’s why he can’t look away when kids in Union City might be getting hurt the same way.
The case started when a former student, listed in court papers only as “M.N.,” filed a lawsuit this summer.
According to the lawsuit, Rolando Gonzalez, an ESL teacher at Washington Elementary, groomed and repeatedly assaulted the boy hundreds of times from third grade through eighth grade on school property and even at the teacher’s own home.
School staff allegedly observed the child being pulled out of class repeatedly and took no action.
Gonzalez is now deceased, so the lawsuit is being filed against the Union City Board of Education for its alleged failure to prevent the incident.
Independent reporter Leroy Truth started asking questions about the lawsuit and other old abuse cases in Union City schools.
He started digging into older cases, too, including teacher-coach “Mike” Realpe, who abused athletes, a Project Veritas video catching a school official bragging about covering up a teacher sleeping with a student.
Leroy is also pressing the district with fresh complaints about a current assistant principal and football coach, Edwin Marinez, who faces accusations of inappropriate behavior.
That’s when things got ugly for Leroy. Leroy was at a public meeting, asking out loud why Edwin Marinez is still around kids.
Video shows a police lieutenant, Glenn Gaston, grabbing Leroy, losing his balance, and falling on his own. Minutes later, Leroy was in cuffs, charged with aggravated assault on an officer, a felony that can mean years in New Jersey state prison.
Witnesses say Leroy never touched the lieutenant. The lieutenant had been limping before anything even happened, according to people who recorded him earlier that night; however, the charge stuck.
Still, Leroy spent over ten hours in a holding cell and was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer. Later, he was shipped to Hudson County Jail.
Leroy and his supporters say it’s no coincidence. They point to another case last year when a Union City sergeant lied about being attacked by a homeless man.
That officer got to retire with full pay, but the homeless guy sat in jail for two weeks.
Reflecting on the situation, Leroy said:
“Same playbook. They make something up, lock you up, and hope you shut up.”
People close to the case say Mayor Brian Stack, who wears three hats: mayor of Union City, state senator, and chairman of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee that picks judges and oversees prosecutors, doesn’t like anyone shining a light on old-school scandals.
Leroy revealed he’s gotten death threats, including one overheard reference to “sleeping with the fishes.”
Right now, Leroy is free on bail, but the charge still hangs over him.
A page is raising money for his lawyer. He keeps posting videos and urging anyone with information about abuse in Union City schools to come forward.
“Kids deserve to be safe,” he says. “If asking questions gets me locked up, then something is very wrong here.”
The lawsuit against the school district is moving forward. Similarly, the criminal case against the reporter who refuses to drop the story is ongoing.
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Aditi is an avid music lover whose interest's goes beyond the realm of music, with passion in digital marketing. A Gen Z who loves her personal space and is keen to exploring new things. An optimist who seeks silver lining in every circumstances life throws at her.
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