Brick woman, teacher charged for sexual relationship with high school student

FREEHOLD, NJ—Julie Rizzitello, a former teacher at Wall Township High School, has been arrested on charges of sexual misconduct with a student, according to a joint announcement by Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago and Wall Township Police Chief Sean O’Halloran.

Rizzitello, 36, from Brick Township, faces two counts of second-degree Sexual Assault, third-degree Witness Tampering, and three counts of fourth-degree Criminal Sexual Contact. This follows her resignation earlier in the week.

The investigation, conducted by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Bureau along with Wall Township and Brick Township Police Departments, uncovered that Rizzitello allegedly engaged in unlawful sexual activities with the student across Belmar, Brick, and Wall on multiple occasions.

She was arrested without incident on Wednesday and is currently held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution. A detention hearing is scheduled in Monmouth County Superior Court.

The school district has since removed her profile page from the district website.

Authorities encourage anyone with additional information to contact Detective Jose Rodriguez of the MCPO or Detective Devin Corso of the Wall Township Police. The case is prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Danielle Zanzuccki, with defense by Francis R. Hodgson, Esq. It is emphasized that the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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