Girls basketball coach arrested for sex with high school student in middletown

FREEHOLD, N.J. — Police are asking for public assistance in a case against a high school basketball coach in Monmouth County. Last month, a Middletown High School North teacher and girls’ basketball coach was charged with sexually assaulting a student, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago reported.

According to reports, that teacher was not fired but placed on administrative leave.

Justin McGhee, 35, of Ocean Township, is facing charges of second-degree sexual assault and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, Santiago said. McGhee, who serves as both a teacher and head coach at the school, was arrested Tuesday and taken to the Monmouth County Jail.

An investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Bureau and the Middletown Township Police Department determined that McGhee engaged in sexual acts with a student under the age of 18, beginning late last year.

https://www.shorenewsnetwork.com/2025/02/18/middletown-school-board-retaliates-against-toms-river-mayor-a-teacher-in-the-district/

McGhee has been placed on administrative leave by the school pending further legal proceedings. Authorities are urging anyone with additional information to contact MCPO Detective David Sidorakis at 800-533-7443 or Middletown Township Police Detective Ricardo Cruz at 732-615-2120.

The case remains under investigation as McGhee awaits court proceedings in Monmouth County Superior Court.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.