NEW BRUNSWICK — A former Sayreville teacher who coached wrestling at more than 20 schools and clubs in New Jersey is expected to be sentenced next week for sexual misconduct with minors.
John Denuto, of Spotswood, was due to be sentenced last Friday, but proceedings were delayed due to issues raised by Denuto’s new lawyer.
During the brief court session before Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Thomas Abode, Denuto’s attorney Nicole Atlak indicated some concerns about her client’s assessment.
The latest postponement follows Denuto’s sentencing date being rescheduled numerous times since last fall.
Recent changes to the sentencing date may be linked to Denuto’s change of attorneys. Denuto was represented by attorney Wolodymyr Tyshcenko of the law firm Caruso Smith Picini in Fairfield. An obituary for Tyshchenko, 48, states that 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 endangering and one count of fourth-degree invasion of privacy.
As part of the plea deal, Denuto is expected to face seven years in state prison, lifetime probation supervision and must register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law.
Denuto was arrested in February 2020 following an investigation that found he had criminal sexual contact with a young man and possessed sexually exploitative materials that he created by filming and photographing the young man.
Court documents indicated that Denuto abused a former high school student during private coaching classes at his home. The sexual assaults occurred on more than one occasion when the student was between 13 and 15 years old.
An investigation determined that Denuto was in possession of additional child sexual exploitation materials unrelated to the minor and that he also photographed private parts of seven other victims without their knowledge, and inappropriately touched five of those victims, authorities said.
Denuto was fired as head wrestling coach at Union County College following his arrest.
Authorities discovered that Denuto also allegedly sexually assaulted a former student in 2016 when he lived in the home of a member of the Sayreville Board of Education.
Court documents show that nude videos of one of the victims were found on Denuto’s cellphone, which was searched after obtaining a warrant.
Denuto was indicted in April 2021 on four counts of endangering the welfare of a child in connection with the filming and possession of child sexual exploitation material, six counts of aggravated criminal sexual contact and six counts of criminal sexual contact. Additionally, he was indicted on eight counts of invasion of privacy, two counts of witness tampering and one count of hindering apprehension.
Denuto was associated with the Rhino’s Wrestling Club in Morganville, CJA Wrestling Club in East Brunswick, Sayreville Middle School, The Peddie School in Hightstown, Union County College, Woodbridge and Old Bridge recreation programs, as well as Pennsville, Raritan, St., Sayreville, Middletown North, Monroe, South Brunswick Saint Joseph (Montvale), Camden Catholic, Arthur L. Johnson, St.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other chaos. For unlimited access, subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ wrestling coach faces sentence for sex crimes with minors
