Former Middlesex County College basketball Coach Indicted For Sexual Assault Of Four Boys, Prosecutor Says

A 43-year-old former Middlesex County College basketball coach has been indicted on charges of sexually assaulting two boys in 2010-2011 and engaging in sexually explicit conversations with two additional boys in 1994.

Christopher Tarver, of Jackson, was charged with 25 counts including official misconduct, sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, child endangerment and engaging in a pattern of official misconduct, according to a press release from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

The investigation began after one of the victims, now an adult, notified authorities.

“That victim was a member of the Monmouth Power Sports Club, a travelling basketball team affiliated with the AAU,” according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. “Tarver had been the coach and executive director of the team since 1995.”

He was arrested and charged during an investigation by Sgt. Frank DiNinno and Detective Karleen Duca of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Victim 1:

Tarver allegedly engaged in multiple sex acts with the victim while he was working as a coach at the Middlesex County College in Edison and a recreation director at the Dunellen Recreation Center between June 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2011.

He is also accused of sending the 15-year-old Ocean Township boy sexually explicit text messages.

Victim 2:

Tarver allegedly had explicit conversations and sent sexually explicit text messages to the victim, described as a basketball player under the age of 21, between Oct. 1, 2012 and Oct. 31, 2013 .

He is also accused of providing the under-aged victim alcohol and marijuana.

Victim 3:

Tarver was charged with sexual assault against another 15-year-old in 1995 at the defendant’s home in Jackson Township.

The investigation showed the other victims were between the ages of 15 and 19 or 20.

Tarver had been with the Dunellen recreation director since 2004, but was suspended soon after his arrested in 2014.

He was also the recreation director in North Plainfield from Feb. 2008 until Feb. 2013.

Tarver was also employed as a basketball coach at Middlesex County College from Oct. 21, 2006 to March 5, 2014 and became the college’s head basketball coach on June 24, 2010.

The investigation is active and is continuing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. DiNinno of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-4221, or Detective Duca of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-4452.