Ex-wrestling coach throughout New Jersey sentenced to 7 years for child sexual misconduct

NEW BRUNSWICK – A former Sayreville teacher who coached wrestling at more than 20 schools and clubs in New Jersey has been sentenced to seven years in state prison for sexual misconduct with two minors.

John Denuto was sentenced Thursday by Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Thomas Abode who also said Denuto would be subject to parole supervision for life, will be required to register as a Megan’s Law sex offender and is to have no contact with his victims.

Denuto, 46, of Spotswood, and his attorney, Eric Feinberg, asked for a lighter sentence of five years rather than the seven years which was part of a negotiated plea.

"I've done a lot of work on myself in the last couple of years," said Denuto, who also affirmed his April 2023 guilty plea to non-consensual sexual contact.

One of the victims asked at the sentencing that Denuto receive the maximum sentence.

"I think he deserves the max sentence. The impact he put on my life and others at such a young age, if we're talking five to seven years, he should get every single year. He should have every single eye on him for the rest of his life," the victim said.

"He's done much more than five years of damage to my life mentally," the young man said. "And it's not just me and the victims. It's the families and friends involved. It impacts everyone and for a much longer time and that's why I believe he deserves the maximum sentence because the time that was taken from others will not be able to match what the court will give him."

Abode said Denuto tried to minimize his involvement, failed to appreciate the consequences of his actions and has not engaged in any offender treatment.

Abode said the lack of motivation for treatment and lack of awareness "presents concerns to this court."

"You don't appreciate the seriousness of your conduct and your actions on your victims," Abode said.

Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Carver agreed, saying the plea was negotiated fairly with the belief that Denuto would realize the illegality of his behavior. But Carver said there are questions whether that will affect Denuto's behavior in the future.

"The defendant has blamed the law which he claims he was unaware of. He has blamed the victims. He has blamed the victims' girlfriends. Every opportunity the defendant had to shift the blame to someone else, he has done so," said Carver, who also said Denuto has portrayed himself as a victim. "There remains legitimate questions how he will conduct himself in the future."

Denuto's attorney and family declined comment after the sentencing.

Denuto was arrested in February 2020 following an investigation that found he had criminal sexual contact with a juvenile and possessed sexually exploitive materials he created by filming and photographing the juvenile.

Court documents indicated Denuto abused a former middle school student during private coaching lessons at his home. The sexual assaults took place on more than one occasion when the student was between the ages of 13 and 15, the documents state.

An investigation determined Denuto was in possession of additional child sexual exploitive materials unrelated to the juvenile and that he also photographed other victims’ intimate parts without their knowledge, and inappropriately touched victims, authorities said.

Denuto was fired as Union County College’s head wrestling coach following his arrest.

Officials learned Denuto also allegedly sexually assaulted a former student in 2016 when he was living at the home of a Sayreville Board of Education member.

Court documents say nude videos of one of the victims was found on Denuto's cellphone.

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

Denuto had been 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. John Vianney, Sayreville, Middletown North, Monroe, South Brunswick St. Joseph (Montvale), Camden Catholic, Arthur L. Johnson, St. Thomas Aquinas, Woodbridge, Piscataway, Spotswood and Freehold Borough high schools.

Email: srussell@gannettnj.com

Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Ex-wrestling coach throughout New Jersey sentenced to 7 years for child sexual misconduct