BLOOMFIELD – The associate director of athletics at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield has been arrested on several counts of attempt to commit sexual abuse of a minor, the Bloomfield Police reported Monday, Dec. 30.
Sacred Heart University Associate Director of Athletic Communications Matthew Steven Janik, 39, of Seymour was arrested in Bloomfield on Dec. 30.
The charges were criminal attempted/illegal sexual contact with a victim younger than 16; attempted sexual assault involving a victim aged 13 to 15 years old, where the perpetrator is more than three years older than the victim; criminal attempt/commercial sex abuse of a minor under 15 years old; and enticing a minor by computer.
Janik, who is due in Hartford Geographic Area 14 Court on Feb. 4 to make a plea, could not be reached for comment. He is being held on a $250,000 bond.
A Sacred Heart University spokesperson released a statement regarding Janik’s employment status.
“The Bloomfield Police Department made us aware yesterday that Matthew Janik had been arrested,” a SHU spokesperson wrote to the Fairfield County Business Journal. “Upon learning of this, Janik was immediately suspended pending investigation.”
According to a SHU staff directory website page, Janik joined the athletic communication and marketing staff at Sacred Heart University in December 2022 as associate director of athletic communications. He serves as the primary media contact for the Pioneers’ men’s ice hockey, baseball, field hockey and fencing programs.
