NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – A 29-year-old woman has been charged with providing false documents in an attempt to enroll in a New Jersey high school as a student.
On Jan. 24, Hyejeong Shin, a New Brunswick resident, was charged with one count of third-degree providing a false government document with the intent to verify one’s identity or age.
Shin provided a false birth certificate to the New Brunswick Board of Education with the intent to enroll as a juvenile student at New Brunswick High School, according to authorities.
While it’s not clear why she tried to enroll at the school, students say she attended class and was at the school for four days, News 12 New Jersey reported.
Once officials realized she wasn’t supposed to be there, she was banned from district property, the outlet said.
According to NJ.com, schools are required to immediately enroll unaccompanied children, even if records normally required for enrollment are not available.
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“To know that a person with that intention was that close to me is even scarier,” sophomore Rihanna Colon told the news station.
Multiple protests were also held on campus to demand better school security. According to those protesting, the school is plagued with fights and other safety concerns, the station reported.
New Brunswick Schools Superintendent Aubrey Johnson discussed the situation at a school board meeting Tuesday night.
Johnson said the district would be reviewing its enrollment process to avoid anything like this from happening again, NJ.com reported.
“All appropriate authorities were notified, and the individual in question has been arrested for providing false documentation,” Johnson reportedly said.
Reach reporter Alexander Lewis: alewis@gannett.com.