A elementary school custodian in Cumberland County is facing multiple charges accusing him of urinating and spitting on school cafeteria cooking utensils, rubbing his genitals on food, spraying bleach on food items and performing sex acts on library furniture, all while videoing himself to share online.
Giovanni Impellizzeri, 25, of Vineland, is employed by the Upper Deerfield Township School District and worked at the Elizabeth F. Moore School, which serves students in grades 3 to 5, according to authorities.
Authorities received multiple anonymous tips regarding “alarming posts” Impellizzeri allegedly made in a group chat on the messaging app Telegram, according to court documents.
A tipster reported that Impellizzeri posted videos of himself “performing sexual acts with items from the school, as well as doing things that would endanger the well-being of the students at the school,” police stated.
The videos allegedly show Impellizzeri spraying bleach in a large container of cucumbers, spitting on utensils, rubbing his genitals on utensils and food, urinating in bowls and opening up a beanbag chair in the library and urinating into it, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed with the charges.
“Video showed Giovanni Impellizzeri utilized multiple pieces of bread to wipe his penis, testicles, and anus, as well as spitting on the bread, before putting the bread back into the container to be later served to children at the school,” police stated in the affidavit. He was also seen “masturbating and urinating on pillows and kitchen bowls.”
Investigators went to the Elizabeth F. Moore School, which has about 250 students, and verified locations seen in the videos and recovered items matching or resembling those seen in the videos.
Officials are trying to determine if the alleged acts occurred recently or sometime in the past, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office. Impellizzeri has been employed by the district since September 2019.
He was charged Tuesday with third-degree aggravated assault, two counts of third-degree tampering with food products, third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of children. An additional charge of second-degree official misconduct was filed Thursday.
Impellizzeri was placed in Cumberland County Jail pending court hearings. Court records did not list an attorney for Impellizzeri as of Friday morning.
In a message to the school community this week, Upper Deerfield Schools Superintendent Peter Koza indicated the employee was on administrative leave and in police custody, and that the district was cooperating with investigators.
“Based on the information received at this time it has been determined that the alleged inappropriate activity did not involve anyone other than the individual in question and occurred after school hours,” Koza wrote in the message.
Koza did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday morning.
The school district is working with the Cumberland County Health Department to ensure food preparation, serving utensils and surfaces have been properly sanitized and any food products in question discarded, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Authorities are taking steps to collect bodily fluid samples from Impellizzeri to determine if there is any potential for infectious disease transmission, officials said.
“Once a determination is made, notification and next steps will be provided by the health department to ensure the health and safety of those involved,” the prosecutor’s office said.
The health department recommended individuals contact their healthcare provider if they suspect any illness.
“Once we have lab results, both body fluid specimens and any food samples collected, we will be able to provide more information and direction. We also need timeframe verification,” said Cumberland County Health Officer Megan Sheppard. “For now, parents and those involved should contact their healthcare provider if they show signs of illness, particularly severe illness.
“We will be sure to provide further direction as more information becomes available.”
Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact New Jersey State Police Detective Alex Angerman at 856-451-0101 or submit an anonymous tip online at CCPO.TIPS.
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Matt Gray may be reached at [email protected].