Coach From Jackson Sentenced To 52 Years For Sex Assault Of Child

EDISON, NJ — A Jackson Township man and former community college basketball coach has been sentenced to 52 years in state jail for sexually assaulting children and possessing child pornography, Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey said on Friday.

Christopher Tarver, 47, of Jackson Township, must serve at least 25 years before he is eligible for parole. He must also register as a Megan's Law sex offender and be on supervised parole for the rest of his life. Tarver, who had been the men's basketball coach at Middlesex County College, is barred from contacting the victims or their families, or seeking public employment.

After a five week jury trial last fall, Tarver was found guilty of endangering the welfare of a child, engaging in a pattern of official misconduct, sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, official misconduct, in the fourth degree, and endangering the welfare of a child by possessing child pornography.

The assaults took place between June 2010 and December 2011 while Tarver was in a supervisory position over the minor victim, Carey said. The victim was a member of the Monmouth Power Sports Club, a travel basketball team Tarver had coached starting in 1995.

Child pornography was found during a search of Tarver's Jackson Township home in April 2014, Carey said.

In addition to the travel team, Tarver worked as the Dunellen recreation director between 2004 and 2014, and as a men's basketball coach at Middlesex County College from October 2006 until his arrest in March 2014.

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