ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY – On Thursday, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll announced the arrest of Joseph Derose Jr., 27, for an assault and related charges.
Derose Jr. is a substitute teacher at Catherine A. Dwyer Elementary School in Rockaway Township.
Derose Jr. faces charges on two separate complaints from Rockaway Township and Rockaway Borough, including second-degree non-consensual assault, third-degree endangering child welfare, and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.
He allegedly had an intimate relationship with a 16-year-old victim from May 2021 through January 2022 while serving as the victim’s baseball coach.
Derose Jr. was arrested on Thursday and lodged at the Morris County Correctional Facility. A detention hearing is scheduled for March 22.
Anyone with information related to the investigation is encouraged to call the Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at 973-285-6200.