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The sentencing of John Denuto, a former youth wrestling coach in Central New Jersey, has revealed a troubling chapter in the region’s sports community.
Denuto, 46, a resident of Spotswood, worked at multiple schools and wrestling programs across Central Jersey, including Woodbridge High School, Sayreville Middle and High School, and Woodbridge Recreation Wrestling.
On Thursday, he was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of child endangerment and invasion of privacy.
Denuto’s downfall began when he was first arrested in 2020 by Sayreville Police while working as a special education teacher at Sayreville Middle School.
Denuto’s arrest followed accusations of inappropriate sexual contact with a 16-year-old boy in Sayreville, which he recorded through photos and videos.
The Middlesex County Prosecutor, Yolanda Ciccone, took action against Denuto, bringing forward an indictment in 2021 that included six counts of aggravated criminal sexual contact, eight counts of invasion of privacy, and other charges.
Undeniably, these charges accentuated Denuto’s attempts to tamper with witnesses, aiming to dissuade his teenage victims from cooperating with the authorities.
Despite the serious nature of these accusations, Denuto accepted a plea deal, admitting guilt to lesser charges of child endangerment involving two minor victims. His admission, however, did not come without controversy.
During the court proceedings, Denuto flip-flopped on his statements, initially admitting to sexually inappropriate behavior but later denying the sexual nature of his actions.
This inconsistency frustrated Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Thomas Abode and Prosecutor Thomas Carver, who had both expected Denuto to take full responsibility for his actions.
At the center of the case were the disturbing methods Denuto used to groom his victims. According to the prosecutor, Denuto leveraged his position as a coach to gain the trust of his underage athletes.
Unfortunately, he often invited them to his home in Spotswood for private coaching sessions, where the abuse occurred.
The investigation revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior spanning several years, implicating Denuto in a wide range of misconduct across various institutions.
The extent of Denuto’s involvement in youth sports is, quite frankly, staggering. Throughout his career, he was affiliated with numerous schools and clubs, including:
- Rhino’s Wrestling Club – Morganville
- CJA Wrestling Club – East Brunswick
- Pennsville High School – Pennsville
- Raritan High School – Hazlet Township
- Saint John Vianney – Holmdel
- Sayreville Middle School and High School – Sayreville
- Middletown North High School – Middletown Township
- Monroe High School – Monroe
- Peddie High School – Hightstown
- South Brunswick High School – South Brunswick
- Saint Joseph High School – Montvale
- Union County College – Cranford
- Camden Catholic High School – Cherry Hill
- Johnson High School – Clark
- St. Thomas Aquinas High School – Edison
- Woodbridge High School – Woodbridge
- Woodbridge Recreation Program – Woodbridge
- Old Bridge Recreation Program – Old Bridge
- Piscataway High School – Piscataway
- Spotswood High School – Spotswood
- Freehold Boro High School – Freehold Borough
Denuto’s sentencing has been drawn out, marked by delays and courtroom drama. Despite his initial guilty plea in April 2023, Denuto later tried to backtrack, claiming under oath that there was no sexual misconduct, only “a massage.”
This contradiction prompted Judge Abode to delay sentencing and warn Denuto that he would either have to admit to the criminal sexual conduct or face trial.
The case took another twist when it was revealed that Denuto was already serving a four-year prison term. In fact, he was incarcerated at South Woods State Prison in Bridgeton for sexual offenses committed in the early 1990s.
These offenses involved another 15-year-old victim, further highlighting a pattern of predatory behavior that spanned decades.
The NJ Advance Media report revealing these earlier crimes also spurred legislative action.
In a notable effort, New Jersey lawmakers, led by Assemblyman Jay Webber and state Senator Anthony Bucco, introduced a bill.
The bill requires institutions of higher learning to vet potential hires’ employment history thoroughly. By doing so, it aims to prevent the employment of individuals with a history of sexual misconduct.
Ultimately, Denuto was sentenced to seven years in prison, and upon his release, he will be required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law.
Sadly, Denuto’s story serves as a grim reminder of the importance of safeguarding youth in sports and education.
His actions have, without a doubt, left a lasting impact on the communities he worked in, prompting calls for stricter oversight and accountability in the hiring processes of coaches and educators.
Now, as Denuto begins his prison sentence, the repercussions of his crimes will likely be felt for years to come. And victims and their families, understandably, continue to seek justice and healing from the trauma inflicted by someone they once trusted.