A former New Jersey high school teacher has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to assaulting two former students, including incidents that prosecutors say took place at her family’s bagel shop.
Julie Rizzitello, 37, who previously taught at Wall High School in Wall Township, was sentenced in Monmouth County Superior Court. According to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the judge ordered her to serve 10 years in state prison, be placed under lifetime parole supervision, register under Megan’s Law, have no contact with the victims, and permanently give up her teaching position.
Rizzitello pleaded guilty in September to two counts of second degree sexual assault related to incidents that occurred in 2017 and 2024.
Investigation Revealed Pattern Of Misconduct
Prosecutors said she first met both victims while they were students at the high school. One was a freshman at the time, and the other was a junior. Authorities stated that she built friendly relationships with the teens, asked to spend time alone with them, and gradually escalated the relationships over several months.
Investigators said the encounters took place at multiple locations, including her home in Brick, inside a vehicle in a Wall Township parking lot, and at a Belmar bagel shop owned by her family. Both victims had worked at the shop after she encouraged them to apply there.
While the investigation was underway, prosecutors said Rizzitello contacted the victims and asked them to delete evidence from their electronic devices.
She was arrested in July 2024 after a school district employee alerted authorities about her relationship with a student. After the arrest, a second victim came forward. Officials said text messages and photos supported the allegations.
Court Rejects Request For Reduced Sentence
One of the victims shared a statement in court during sentencing. The judge rejected a defense request to reduce the prison term to five years, citing the seriousness of the offenses.
Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago described the case as involving manipulation and abuse of trust. He said the conduct was not a single lapse in judgment but a pattern of behavior that harmed young people placed in her care.
Wall Township Police Chief Sean O’Halloran also praised the victims for speaking out, noting that it can be especially difficult when the accused is someone in a position of authority.
School District Response
Rizzitello had been hired by the district in 2013 and was earning approximately $62,000 annually before resigning. In a previous statement, Wall Township Public Schools said it was cooperating fully with law enforcement once the allegations surfaced.
The case has drawn significant attention in the community, raising concerns about trust, accountability, and the responsibility educators have toward their students.