A former high school English teacher in New Jersey, Julie Rizzitello, has been sentenced to 10 years in state prison for engaging in inappropriate relationships with two of her students. Rizzitello, a resident of Brick Township, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree sexual assault in August.
The first victim, identified as BS, was a freshman when the relationship with Rizzitello began in 2017. The teacher invited him to eat lunch alone in her classroom, leading to more private meetings where she expressed her desire to have a sexual relationship with him. Rizzitello even told the teenager that she had dreamed about being intimate with him. The relationship escalated to the point where she encouraged him to engage in unprotected intercourse on his birthday, resulting in a pregnancy that she terminated without his knowledge.
Superior Court Judge Jill Grace O’Malley described Rizzitello’s behavior as a pattern of manipulation and abuse, preying on vulnerable students in a safe environment. The impact on the first victim was profound, leading to anxiety, panic attacks, and difficulty forming normal relationships.
After the first relationship ended, Rizzitello became involved with a second victim, initiating grooming behavior while he was still a minor. Although they did not engage in physical intimacy until he turned 18, the judge emphasized the harmful effects of the teacher’s actions on the young man.
Rizzitello was sentenced to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison on each count, to run concurrently. She will also be required to register under Megan’s Law and will be subject to parole supervision for life. The devastating impact of her actions on the victims underscores the importance of protecting students from predatory behavior in educational settings.
