A New Jersey teacher has admitted to sexually assaulting two of her students in incidents that spanned several years.
Julie Rizzitello, who taught ninth-grade English and SAT prep at Wall High School in Wall Township, was arrested in July 2024 after police were alerted by a district employee about her relationship with a student, the Coast Star reported.
At the time, she was also charged with witness tampering and three counts of criminal sexual contact.
Investigators determined the 37-year-old engaged in sexual activity with an 18-year-old student between April and June 2024.
According to charging documents obtained by an outlet, Rizzitello allegedly sent the teen nude photographs and exchanged “numerous” sexually explicit messages. They also met in Brick, Belmar, and Wall townships, with one encounter taking place inside the victim’s car.
After her arrest, a second victim came forward and he told investigators that he and Rizzitello had sexual intercourse in November 2017 and January 2018 at her residence in Brick Township.
Detectives said pictures and text messages corroborated his account. The victim was 17 at the time.
“The actions of this former teacher represent a betrayal of trust, not only to the victims, but to the entire school community,” Wall Township Police Chief Sean O’Halloran told the Coast Star in a statement, per Fox News.
“I commend the courage of those who came forward and the dedication of our officers and partner agencies in bringing this case to justice. Protecting our youth is among our highest priority and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that criminals are brought to justice to safeguard our residents and guests," he added.
Rizzitello was hired by the school in 2013 and was paid about $62,000 annually. She also served as an advisor for several student clubs. Just days before her arrest on July 3, 2024, she resigned from her teaching position.
The teacher, who married her husband in 2017, the same year the earlier abuse occurred, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree sexual assault for crimes committed in 2017 and 2024, per the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
In July, Wall Township Public Schools confirmed the charges against her and said the district was cooperating fully with law enforcement, urging anyone with information to contact police.
She is scheduled to be sentenced on January 9, 2026. Prosecutors said they will recommend a 10-year prison term, lifetime sex offender registration under Megan’s Law, parole supervision for life, and a permanent bar on holding public office.