FREEHOLD, NJ – A former Wall Township High School English teacher will spend the next decade in state prison after admitting to engaging in repeated sexual acts with two students, a case prosecutors described as a prolonged abuse of trust that spanned several years and multiple locations in Monmouth and Ocean counties.
Julie Rizzitello, 37, of Brick Township, was sentenced Thursday to 10 years behind bars by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Jill G. O’Malley. In addition to prison time, she will be subject to Parole Supervision for Life, must register under Megan’s Law, is permanently barred from contact with the victims, and forfeits her teaching position.
The sentence follows Rizzitello’s guilty plea in August to two counts of second-degree sexual assault. The charges stem from an investigation led by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Bureau and the Wall Township Police Department, with assistance from authorities in Ocean County and Brick Township.
Investigators determined that Rizzitello met one victim when he was a freshman and the other when he was a junior at Wall Township High School. Prosecutors said she initially cultivated friendly, private interactions that escalated into sexual activity over a period of months.
The conduct occurred primarily at three locations: Rizzitello’s home in Brick, a vehicle parked in Wall Township, and a Belmar bagel shop owned by her family, where both victims were employed at her suggestion.
- Rizzitello sentenced to 10 years in state prison
- Subject to lifetime parole supervision and Megan’s Law registration
- Permanently barred from teaching and from contacting victims
Judge cites grooming pattern and victim impact
During sentencing, Judge O’Malley ruled that four aggravating factors outweighed a single mitigating factor, rejecting a defense request to reduce the sentence to five years. The court referenced a victim impact statement read aloud during the hearing, describing the emotional consequences of the crimes.
Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago characterized the offenses as deliberate and sustained, stating they were not isolated lapses in judgment but repeated acts involving isolation and manipulation of minors entrusted to her care as a teacher.
Authorities said that while the investigation was ongoing, Rizzitello contacted both victims and asked them to delete electronic evidence related to the incidents. She was arrested without incident in July 2024.
Wall Township Police Chief Sean O’Halloran credited the victims for coming forward and said their cooperation was critical in bringing the case to court. He also commended the investigative teams from multiple agencies for their coordination and persistence throughout the probe.
Assistant Prosecutor Keri-Leigh Schaefer handled the case for the state. Rizzitello was represented by Ocean Township attorney Mitch Ansell.
