Ex-Wall teacher freed from jail to face charges of sex with students

FREEHOLD A judge Tuesday ordered the release from jail of a former Wall High School teacher accused of carrying on affairs with two students.

In ordering the release of Julie Rizzitello from the Monmouth County Jail, Superior Court Judge Marc C. Lemieux told the defendant he will send her back behind bars if she has any contact whatsoever with either of the two victims.

Lemieux, who is Monmouth County's assignment judge, barred Rizzitello from having contact or working with any minors while she is awaiting trial.

Rizzitello, 36, of Brick, faces sexual assault charges related to two separate victims, one she is alleged to have engaged in a sexual relationship with from May to June, and the other she engaged in sex with from late 2017 to early 2018. Both victims were Rizzitello's students when the sexual activity took place, the state alleges.

"As a teacher at Wall Township High School, she was in a position of power, trust and authority over young students,'' Keri-Leigh Schaefer, an assistant Monmouth County prosecutor, told the judge.

"She abused that position of power, trust and authority by preying upon schoolchildren for her own sexual gratification,'' Schaefer said. "This defendant has exhibited a pattern of predatory behavior.''

In the most recent case, Rizzitello is alleged to have engaged in sex with the victim weekly, Schaefer said. In the earlier case, she his alleged to have had sex with the victim almost every other day, she said.

The sex occurred at various locations, including at a local business where the victims worked, while customers were in the shop, and at the victim's home, Schaefer said.

Rizzitello was "sneaking these students into her house while her husband was at work,'' Schaefer said.

Schaefer urged the judge to keep Rizzitello behind bars, but defense attorney Charles Uliano argued for her release, saying her ties to the community are strong, as she has two children, ages 4 and 3.

"She is certainly not a risk to the community at all,'' Uliano argued.

Rizzitello is also charged with witness tampering, related to both victims. Schaefer alleged Rizzitello, as an investigation was underway, contacted both victims and told them to delete sexual communications and photographs from their phones.

Rizzitello, who taught at Wall High School for 10 years, was arrested July 3. She submitted her resignation to the school just prior to her arrest.

Kathleen Hopkins, a reporter in New Jersey since 1985, covers crime, court cases, legal issues and just about every major murder trial to hit Monmouth and Ocean counties. Contact her at khopkins@app.com .

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Ex-Wall teacher freed from jail to face charges of sex with students