FREEHOLD, NJ – Terry Y. Kuo, a 32-year-old former youth tennis instructor from Colts Neck, was sentenced to over 56 years in prison for sexual crimes against a student, as announced by Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago.
Kuo, convicted at trial, faces a mandatory 85 percent of the sentence under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act (NERA) before parole eligibility, as ruled by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Jill G. O’Malley.
During a previous trial, Kuo reportedly urinated on the courtroom floor during the jury selection process.
The charges originated from a 2016-2017 investigation, following a student’s allegations against Kuo. Investigations by the Marlboro Township Police and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office uncovered digital files with child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on Kuo’s devices, evidencing sexual offenses against the victim.
Evidence presented at trial revealed Kuo’s pattern of gifting the victim expensive items while engaging in sexual misconduct. Kuo was arrested in November 2017, with the initial indictment in February 2018 and subsequent ones in December 2018 and January 2023.
Kuo was found guilty of multiple counts, including first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Kidnapping, and others. Judge O’Malley denied Kuo’s request for a new trial before sentencing. Upon release, Kuo will be under lifelong parole supervision, registered as a sex offender, and barred from contacting the victim.