Crime, Regional Interest

Prosecutor: Former High School Teacher Facing More Sexual Assault Charges

A former high school teacher is now facing additional charges for having a sexual relationship with another student, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Wednesday. The teacher had recently been charged with the sexual assault of another student.

In this additional case, Julie Rizzitello, 36, of Brick Township, has been charged with one count of second-degree sexual assault and one count of third-degree witness tampering.

As a result of the continued investigation involving members of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Bureau and Wall Township Police Department, assisted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the Brick Township Police Department, it has been revealed that alleged criminal conduct by Rizzitello began in 2017 with another student. On multiple occasions in Brick Township Rizzitello allegedly engaged in various sexual acts with the second victim.

The collaborative investigation resulted in charges being filed both in Monmouth (on the Wall offense) and Ocean (on the Brick offense) counties.

Rizzitello was arrested on Wednesday, July 3, and transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI), where she is being held pending a detention hearing scheduled to take place in Monmouth County Superior Court on Tuesday, July 23, before the Honorable Judge Marc C. Lemieux.

Anyone with information about Rizzitello’s activities is being urged to contact MCPO Detective Jose Rodriguez at 800-533-7443 or Wall Township Police Department Detective Devin Corso at 732-449-4500.

This case is being prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Keri-Leigh Schaefer. Rizzitello is being represented by Francis R. Hodgson, Esq., with an office in Toms River.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office