Middletown teacher who had sex with student in his basement released from jail
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Middletown Teacher Who Had Sex With Student in His Basement Released From Jail

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March 6, 2025

MIDDLETOWN, N.J. – A Monmouth County high school basketball coach charged with sexually assaulting a student has been released from jail under court-imposed conditions, officials said.

Justin McGhee, 35, the head girls’ basketball coach and a physical education teacher at Middletown High School North, was freed during a detention hearing on Thursday, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

Today, the Middletown School District corrected a report by Shore News Network confirming McGhee was not brought up on tenure charges for having sex with a student. Instead, the district said it allowed the teacher simply to resign without facing tenure charges.

McGhee was charged with second-degree sexual assault and child endangerment. Authorities say he admitted to sexually assaulting a young juvenile student in the basement of his Ocean Township home.

The judge ordered McGhee to have no contact with the alleged victim or her family and barred him from school property, school-related events, or any activities involving children.

McGhee was arrested on Jan. 28 after a tip in December alleged he was in a sexual relationship with a student. A later email to school officials provided similar allegations, prompting an investigation.

Phil Stilton

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.

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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.

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