FREEHOLD — A former Monmouth County high school teacher who admitted to sexually assaulting two students over several years is scheduled to be sentenced on February 11, after her court date was postponed.
Julie Rizzitello, 37, a Brick Township resident and former English teacher at Wall Township High School, pleaded guilty in September to two counts of second-degree sexual assault, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutors said the offenses involved separate victims and occurred in multiple municipalities beginning as early as 2017. Rizzitello was arrested on July 3, 2024, following an investigation that detailed repeated sexual contact and explicit communications with a student.
Court documents allege that one incident occurred inside a vehicle in Brick Township, with additional encounters and meetings later taking place in Belmar, Brick and Wall townships. Investigators also cited the exchange of nude photographs and ongoing sexually explicit messages.
The state plans to seek a 10-year prison sentence. Prosecutors are also requesting that Rizzitello be required to register under Megan’s Law, be placed on parole supervision for life, and permanently forfeit public employment.
Rizzitello had been employed by Wall Township Public Schools since 2013 and earned approximately $46,000 annually, according to public pension records.
Her sentencing had originally been scheduled for January 9 but was rescheduled to February 11.
Following her guilty plea, online commentary drew criticism from legal experts and advocates after some posts questioned whether the male students should be considered victims. Authorities emphasized that under New Jersey law, students cannot legally consent to sexual relationships with teachers, regardless of gender.
