A 39-year-old Passaic High School teacher was arrested after he allegedly had sexually inappropriate text conversations with two students.
According to authorities, a family member of one of the alleged victims contacted police after discovering old text messages between José Maria and the student which reportedly occurred between 2010 and 2012.
An investigation ultimately led police to arrest and charge Maria with four counts of second degree endangering the welfare of a child and one count of official misconduct for sexually inappropriate conversations and behavior with the two alleged victims.
Officials said the teenagers were both students at the Passaic High School at the time of the allegations.