Rutgers Prep Coach Sentenced For Sex Assault Of Student

FRANKLIN, NJ — A former teacher and coach of Rutgers Preparatory School in Somerset - Matthew Rennie, 29, of Ringoes - was sentenced on March 17 to four years in New Jersey State Prison for sexually assaulting a 17-year-old student, announced Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald and Somerset County Prosecutors Office Chief of Detectives John W. Fodor.

Rennie must also register and report under the requirements of Megan’s Law and the conditions of Parole Supervision for Life. Rennie is also prohibited from teaching or coaching anyone under the age of 18 and must continue psychotherapy.

Rennie will also have to provide truthful testimony against Ranait Griff, 30, of South Orange, a female teacher/coach at the same school who police say knew about the sexual relationship, said McDonald.

Griff had been serving as the girls' lacrosse coach at the school at the time. She is scheduled for trial in May 2023.

Rutgers Prep did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.

Arrests

Rennie was arrested on Oct. 6, 2021, after a 17-year-old girl reported to Franklin Township Police that she was sexually assaulted by her teacher/coach Rennie, who at the time was employed at Rutgers Prep a private educational institution in Franklin Township. Rennie served as a girls' volleyball coach. Read More: 2 Rutgers Prep Coaches Charged In Connection With Sex Assault

The student told detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit and Franklin Township Police Department that she was sexually assaulted occurred in Montgomery Township and East Amwell Township (Hunterdon County) from July 2021 to September 2021, said McDonald.

Additionally, it was found during the investigation that Griff knew about the sexual relationship, said McDonald.

Griff was arrested by detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit and the Franklin Township Police Department without incident at the Franklin Township Police Department.

Both Rennie and Griff were "immediately suspended" following the arrests, said Susan Gantz, a spokesperson with Rutgers Preparatory School previously in 2021.

Rennie was indicted for second-degree sexual assault and third-degree endangering
the welfare of a child. Griff was indicted for fourth-degree failure to report child sexual abuse.

Rennie entered a guilty plea to the charges on May 6, 2022, and was kept in the Somerset County Jail pending an evaluation. After a hearing on the results of that evaluation was held, Rennie was scheduled for sentence.

On March 17, 2023, Rennie was sentenced.

Anyone with information relating to the sexual assault is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes Unit 908-231-7100 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line
at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will
be kept confidential.

Lawsuit

Earlier this year, a lawsuit was filed against Rutgers Preparatory School, the school’s former teachers and assistant coaches Matthew Rennie and Ranait Griff, and others in connection with the sexual abuse of a former student, who was a minor at the time. Read More: Rutgers Prep, Coaches Sued In Connection With Sex Assault Of Student

Laffey, Bucci & Kent, LLP filed the suit in Somerset County Superior Court on Jan. 24.

Firm attorney Brian Kent told Patch there was a multitude of reasons to file this lawsuit.

"First and foremost not to let this happen to anyone else," said Kent.

Additionally, he noted that the suit wants to change a culture that existed at the private school, at 1345 Easton Ave. in Somerset, that allows the abuse to happen to his client, who is identified only as Mary Doe.

Gantz, a spokesperson with Rutgers Preparatory School, issued the following response to Patch:

"We are aware that a lawsuit has been filed in response to the actions of two former employees, however we are not able to speak to the details of the matter at this time. We can share that an independent evaluation last year found that Rutgers Prep has in place extensive personnel policies to protect students from inappropriate behavior and provide a means by which such complaints can be reported. The policies and procedures we have in place were confirmed by the assessment to be comprehensive and are directed at providing a safe and supportive learning environment for students."

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