NJ wrestling coach denies child sex crime he pleaded guilty to in bizarre legal twist

NEW BRUNSWICK – The sentencing of John Denuto, a former Sayreville teacher who coached wrestling at more than 20 schools and clubs in New Jersey and admitted to sexual misconduct with a minor, was suddenly postponed Thursday after he apparently denied one of the counts he had pleaded guilty to.

"We are not rushing any decision here today," said Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Thomas Abode, adding that to proceed with sentencing, the court must be convinced of Denuto’s allocution to the charge. "I don't want any litigant in my courtroom making a rushed decision based upon a moment."

The judge indicated there have been variations to the statements Denuto made when he pleaded guilty, which is why the judge decided to continue his sentence and offered Denuto the right to go to trial. He added there must be a proper allocution and the extra time would allow Denuto to meet with his attorney and make an informed decision about what he wants to do.

Denuto said he initially pleaded guilty because he didn't want to have to go through a trial. The sentencing is scheduled to resume next month.

Earlier in the court proceeding, Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Carver argued the court could not proceed with the sentencing of Denuto on the count related to endangering the welfare of a child, a third-degree offense, after the defendant said he had not engaged in sex with one victim when he previously pleaded guilty to it.

"He's denying there was sexual conduct and that's an essential element of that crime," Carver said.

Carver said Denuto, who spoke for 23 minutes during the court session, undermined the factual basis of the case.

In an effort to clarify what he meant when he spoke, Denuto's attorney Nicole Atlak reminded him he was under oath and then asked him about his relationship with one victim with whom he said he didn’t have sex with. Denuto said there was no penetration, kissing or intercourse but said there were massages with that victim for sexual gratification.

Denuto said the massages were to the victim's back, leg, chest and arms while he was undressed, and they occurred from October 2016 through September 2019.

"It was wrong," he said.

Earlier in the court session, Carver said when the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office submitted its sentencing memorandum earlier this year, there were questions about whether Denuto wanted to withdraw his plea or if the plea could remain viable.

He said the basis for the concern were the numerous statements made by Denuto to the probation department, in a pre-sentence report and when he was examined at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center for sex offenders in the Avenel section of Woodbridge.

In addressing the court, Denuto, 47, of Spotswood, said he didn’t have sex with his victims, he never intended to harm anyone, and he made a bad decision in a bad situation.

He said he never forced anyone to do anything they didn’t want to and was surprised to hear one of his victims had felt “trapped,” when he thought they had a good relationship.

He also said he did not have any power over his victims, whom he did not coach, adding one victim never played organized sports.

"I haven't forgiven myself yet. It eats at me every day. It's all I think about," said Denuto, who indicated he plans to write letters of apology to his victims.

In April 2023 Denuto, a former Sayreville Middle School special education teacher, 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.

Denuto confirmed his plea in court Thursday before the sentencing began. Denuto's attorney said the plea involved only two victims in which Denuto was allegedly involved in a consensual relationship.

As part of the plea deal, Denuto was expected to face seven years in state prison, parole supervision for life and register as a Megan's Law sex offender.

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 show nude videos of one of the victims was found on Denuto's cellphone which was searched after a warrant was obtained.

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: NJ wrestling coach denies child sex crime in bizarre legal twist