New Jersey wrestling coach faces conviction for sex crimes against minors

NEW BRUNSWICK – A former Sayreville teacher who coached wrestling at more than 20 schools and clubs across New Jersey is scheduled to be sentenced next week on charges of sexually abusing minors.

Sentencing for John Denuto of Spotswood was scheduled for last Friday, but the hearing was postponed due to objections from Denuto's new attorney.

During the brief court hearing before Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Thomas Abode, Denuto's attorney Nicole Atlak raised some concerns about her client's sentencing.

The latest postponement follows repeated postponements of Denuto's sentencing date since last fall.

The recent changes in the sentencing date may be related to Denuto's change of attorney. Denuto was represented by attorney Volodymyr Tyshchenko of the Caruso Smith Picini law firm in Fairfield. An obituary for Tyshchenko, 48, said he died unexpectedly on February 20, 2024. Aflak works for the same law firm.

In April 2023, Denuto, a former special education teacher at Sayreville Middle School, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, one count of third-degree endangerment, and one count of fourth-degree invasion of privacy.

As part of the deal, Denuto faces seven years in prison, lifetime probation, and must register as a sex offender under Megan's Law.

Denuto was arrested in February 2020 after an investigation found that he had criminal sexual contact with a minor and was in possession of sexually exploitative materials created by filming and photographing the minor.

According to court documents, Denuto sexually assaulted a former middle school student during private lessons at his home. The sexual assaults occurred more than once when the student was between 13 and 15 years old.

An investigation revealed that Denuto was in possession of additional material depicting sexually exploitative images of children that had no connection with the teenager. He also photographed the intimate areas of seven other victims without their knowledge and inappropriately touched five of them, authorities said.

Denuto was fired as head coach of the Union County College wrestling team following his arrest.

Authorities learned that Denuto also allegedly sexually abused a former student in 2016 while living in the home of a member of the Sayreville Board of Education.

According to court documents, nude videos of one of the victims were found on Denuto's cellphone and the cellphone was searched under a search warrant.

Denuto was charged in April 2021 with four counts of endangering the welfare of a child in connection with filming and possessing child sexual exploitation material, six counts of aggravated sexual assault and six counts of sexual assault. In addition, he was charged with eight counts of invasion of privacy, two counts of witness tampering and one count of thwarting his apprehension.

Denuto was associated with the Rhino's Wrestling Club in Morganville, the CJA Wrestling Club in East Brunswick, Sayreville Middle School, the Peddie School in Hightstown, Union County College, the Woodbridge and Old Bridge recreation programs, and high schools in Pennsville, Raritan, St. John Vianney, Sayreville, Middletown North, Monroe, South Brunswick Saint Joseph (Montvale), Camden Catholic, Arthur L. Johnson, St. Thomas Aquinas, Woodbridge, Piscataway, Spotswood and Freehold Borough.

Email: [email protected]

Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, covering crime, court cases and other chaos. For unlimited access, subscribe or activate your digital account today.

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New Jersey wrestling coach faces conviction for sex crimes against minors

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