An adult woman, Hyejeong Shin, was arrested last week for allegedly impersonating a minor and fraudulently enrolling as a student in a New Jersey high school.
Shin, who is 29 years old, attended classes at New Brunswick High School for four days before her true age was discovered by officials. The students at the school were shocked and frightened upon learning the truth about their new classmate.
Some students reported receiving text messages from Shin asking to hang out, causing them to fear she had ill intentions.
The superintendent of the New Brunswick Public School District, Aubrey Johnson, stated that Shin attended several classes for four days before the scheme was uncovered.
Shin was charged with one count of providing a false government document with the intent to verify one’s identity or age after police said she provided a false birth certificate.
However, much about the case remains unclear, including the date of Shin’s arrest and her current custody status.
An official at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center has said that Shin was not in custody as of Wednesday evening. The New Brunswick Police Department has not yet responded to phone and email messages regarding the case.
According to New Brunswick Public School District Superintendent Aubrey Johnson, Shin spent much of her time during the four days she was enrolled in the school interacting with guidance counselors, who were attempting to learn more about her background and needs.
However, it was also revealed that she had attended at least three classes and several students spoke out about their interactions with Shin during her fraudulent enrollment.
One student expressed feeling unsafe in the school building, stating that she had given Shin her phone number and now felt taken advantage of.
Shin reportedly told school officials that she was 15 years old, but raised suspicion when she was unclear about the identity of her legal guardians.
The scheme is said to have unraveled when Shin attempted to sign herself out of school but was prevented from doing so as a minor. Frustrated, Shin allegedly revealed that she is actually 29 years old.
It is worth noting that if Shin had needed to complete a GED, the adult equivalent of a high school diploma, she could have legally enrolled in New Brunswick’s Adult Learning Center.
However, her true intentions for enrolling in the high school remain unclear. Her current custody status is not known and it is uncertain whether she has an attorney to speak on her behalf.
This case has raised concerns about the safety and security of students in the school district and the effectiveness of the enrollment process.
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