CULTURAL ENRICHMENT
The STARTALK Summer Hindi program offers an immersive experience in language and culture
TOWAMENCIN >> North Penn School District to spread Indian culture awareness through hosting Hindi language and culture camp
Five years ago, Ashok Ojha realized there was a lack of formalized education in Pennsylvania for students interested in learning Hindi, the official language of India and third most spoken language in the world.
“Most universities understand the importance of speaking multiple languages, but eastern languages have been mostly absent from school curriculum,” says Ojha, who serves as the director of YHS STARTALK Hindi Programs, an organization with a mission to promote Indian culture, heritage, and values through the vehicle of Hindi language.
“The White House has categorized Hindi as a strategic language for business, commerce, and national security,” he said, explaining why it’s important to provide students the opportunity to learn this language.
With all this in mind, Ojha, who lives in central New Jer-
tal five-year term of court supervision. The judge did not elaborate on her decision in the one-sentence order.
County Assistant District Attorney Bridget C. Gallagher, who opposed any early release from supervision for Jacques, was pleased about the judge’s decision.
“The defendant clearly demonstrated that supervision is required. Her conduct leading to the arrest, having a sexual relationship with a 15-yearold former student, demonstrates an absolute need for further supervision,” Gallagher said on Friday.
Demchick-Alloy imposed the original sentence against Jacques in 2013. The judge’s latest ruling means Jacques, 30, will have to fulfill all the requirements of the original sentence.
In August 2013, Jacques, then 27 and living in the 2000 block of Maple Avenue, was sentenced to 11 ½ to 23 months in the county jail, to be followed by three years’ probation, after she pleaded guilty to a felony charge of corruption of a minor in connection with incidents that occurred between February 2011 and February 2012 with a 15-year-old boy she once taught. Essentially, with parole and probation, Jacques was to be under court supervision for about five years.
Jacques was granted parole on June 1, 2014, according to court papers. While serving her parole and probationary periods, Jacques has been working two jobs as a dispatcher for two limousine services, according to court documents.
As part of her sentence Jacques also has to report her address to state police for 15 years in order to comply with the state’s Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act. About 11 ½ years remain on that reporting period, according to court documents.
Last month, defense lawyer Matthew Taylor Wilkov filed court papers seeking early termination of Jacques’ probationary period, arguing she “has been totally compliant with all aspects of her probation.”
Wilkov maintained Jacques successfully completed all counseling and therapy required by the adult probation department and demonstrated there is no need for further supervision.
Jacques met the 15-yearold youth through her former job at Calvary Baptist School, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Jacques resigned her teaching position in 2011 but continued to communicate with the teenager, police alleged.
The boy’s father contacted Hatfield police in February 2012 about the relationship between Jacques and his son, according to an arrest affidavit filed by Hatfield Township Police. The father, after reviewing a cellphone bill, observed “an excessive amount of texts and phone calls” coming from a land line phone and a cellphone linked to Jacques, according to the criminal complaint.
A Verizon statement showed 1,168 text messages between Jacques and the teenager between Jan. 23 and Feb. 9, police alleged. Also, 37 phone calls between Jacques’ land line and the boy’s cellphone were documented, according to court documents.
During an interview through the Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center, the boy revealed that he and Jacques had sexual contact about 70 times between February 2011 and February 2012, according to the arrest affidavit. The boy told authorities that he and Jacques “were involved in a romantic relationship” during that time.
The encounters occurred at Jacques’ apartment, according to the arrest affidavit.
After leaving her teaching post, Jacques reportedly worked for a bank.
Other charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault and unlawful contact with a minor were dismissed against Jacques at the time of sentencing.