FREEHOLD – The criminal prosecution of former Freehold Intermediate School teacher Allison Havemann-Niedrach was delayed on December 8 after the 44-year-old Jackson resident failed to appear in court for a hearing intended to determine whether the case would resolve through a plea agreement or proceed toward trial.
Before Judge Jill O’Malley, attorney Matthew Mordas appeared on Havemann-Niedrach’s behalf. After meeting in chambers with Mordas and Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Danielle Zanzuccki, O’Malley confirmed that medical documentation had been submitted verifying the defendant was ill and formally excused her absence.
“The court is satisfied, based on documents received, that she is not available for today,” O’Malley said from the bench.
The December 8 hearing had been scheduled as a formal plea cutoff date. Until now, court proceedings revealed that a medical report was pending, without clarification as to whether it addressed physical health issues, psychological claims, or both. At earlier appearances, counsel indicated the findings could be tied to a potential diminished capacity argument.
O’Malley confirmed that the final report is expected from the psychologist who evaluated Havemann-Niedrach and rescheduled the matter for January 21, setting that date as a firm cutoff.
Although an exact trial date has not yet been set, the judge advised attorneys on both sides to clear their calendars for a potential trial in late March or April 2026, noting that the court has some flexibility depending on witness availability and scheduling conflicts.
“I am looking at March and April. Keep your special calendars clear around that time,” she said.
Charges And Allegations
Havemann-Niedrach is charged with multiple serious sex offenses involving a minor student during her employment in the Freehold Regional School District. The charges include sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and official misconduct, according to prior court filings and statements placed on the record during earlier proceedings.
Prosecutors allege that she exploited her position of authority as a teacher to initiate and maintain an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student. The accusations involve repeated acts of illegal sexual contact and communication, some of which investigators say took place during the school year while the student was under her supervision.
According to prosecutors, the state’s case is built on a combination of digital evidence, forensic analysis, student disclosures, and corroborating records.
Investigators seized electronic devices and recovered text messages and electronic communications that prosecutors say document the progression of the relationship. Earlier court testimony described some of those communications as explicit and indicative of planning and concealment.
In addition, interviews conducted with the juvenile victim form a central piece of the prosecution’s case. Those interviews were performed by trained specialists and are expected to be presented at trial if the matter does not resolve beforehand.
Earlier this year, prosecutors placed a plea offer on the record that would have required Havemann-Niedrach to plead guilty to a reduced charge in exchange for a recommended sentence of 12 years in state prison, well below her maximum sentencing exposure. The offer included mandatory parole supervision and sex offender registration requirements.
If convicted at trial, Havemann-Niedrach faces the possibility of substantial state prison time, parole supervision for life, and mandatory registration under New Jersey’s sex offender laws.
Broader Pattern Under Review
The prosecution of Havemann-Niedrach is unfolding amid a growing number of criminal cases in New Jersey and across the country involving teachers accused of sexual misconduct with students. That troubling pattern and the systems in place to detect, report, and prevent abuse will be examined in a future in-depth report.
