ATLANTIC COUNTY – Ocean County College confirmed to JerseyShoreOnline.com that a dean at the school was suspended after allegedly paying a juvenile for sex.
James Hadley, 66, of Barnegat, was arrested March 13 in Pleasantville and charged with second-degree sexual assault of a victim under the age of 16, second-degree luring a minor to commit a sexual act, third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.
Hadley was recently appointed as a dean at Ocean County College. College officials confirmed to JerseyShoreOnline.com that action was taken shortly after they were notified of the charges.
“On Friday afternoon, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Offices apprised us of the situation regarding James Hadley,” said Jan Kirsten, Executive Director of College Relations for Ocean County College. “Upon receiving this information, we took immediate action and placed Mr. Hadley on a suspension and restricted him from campus.”
“The College has no record of complaints or reports concerning his conduct while employed with our College,” added Kirsten. “As an open active investigation is pending, the College will not be offering further comment at this time.”
In Barnegat, Hadley was also known in the community as a youth sports coach. While not employed by the Barnegat school district, sources said he coached middle school basketball players as well as Little League and travel teams, making the arrest a concern for some local families.
Authorities said Hadley traveled from Ocean County to Pleasantville on March 13 to meet a juvenile for the purpose of engaging in a sexual act. Detectives from the Pleasantville Police Department and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested him upon arrival at a predetermined location before any contact with the child could occur.
Investigators allege that Hadley had previously met the same juvenile on at least two occasions earlier this month and paid the minor to perform sexual acts.
The case is being investigated by the Pleasantville Police Department with assistance from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit. Prosecutors have filed a motion seeking Hadley’s pretrial detention, with a hearing tentatively scheduled for this week in Atlantic County Superior Court. The investigation remains ongoing.
The charges against Hadley are accusations. Under New Jersey law, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Anyone with information related to serious crimes in Atlantic County is asked to contact the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or submit a tip anonymously through ACPO.Tips. Crime Stoppers of Atlantic County also accepts anonymous tips at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477.
