Former Piscataway Wrestling Coach Pleads Guilty To Endangering Minor

PISCATAWAY, NJ — A youth wrestling coach who worked at dozens of schools and wrestling programs throughout Central New Jersey — including Piscataway High School — has now pleaded guilty to child endangerment.

The coach is John Denuto, 46.

His guilty plea comes after the Middlesex County Prosecutor said he had sexual contact with a 16-year-old boy, and filmed and photographed the encounters.

On April 14, Denuto admitted to child endangerment. MyCentralJersey.com has photos of Denuto in court.

Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said Denuto used his position as a wrestling coach to meet and groom his underage victims.

Denuto was first arrested on February 15, 2020 by Sayreville Police, who say he had criminal sexual contact with a boy, 16.

Police say they found photos and video he filmed of the sexual interactions with the underage boy, plus sexual material of other, unidentified individuals.

In April of 2021, Denuto was indicted on a broad range of charges: Six counts of aggravated criminal sexual contact, child endangerment, eight counts of privacy invasion, witness tampering (meaning he was accused of trying to get the victim not to cooperate with law enforcement) and hindering his own arrest.

On April 14 Denuto pleaded guilty to lesser crimes: Two counts of child endangerment and one count of invasion of privacy. The most serious charges of aggravated criminal sexual contact appear to have been dropped by the county prosecutor under the plea deal.

He will be sentenced in September. Prosecutors said they will ask for a prison term of seven years, and that he register as sex offender under Megan’s Law.

Denuto is a Spotswood resident. He most recently worked as a special-education teacher at Sayreville Middle School.

In announcing Denuto's guilty plea, the Middlesex County Prosecutor also published this list of the schools and organizations Denuto worked at:

• Rhino's Wrestling Club - Morganville
• CJA Wrestling Club - East Brunswick
• Pennsville High School - Pennsville
• Raritan High School - Hazlet Township
• Saint John Vianney - Holmdel
• Sayreville Middle School - Sayreville
• Sayreville High School - Sayreville
• Middletown North High School - Middletown Township
• Monroe High School - Monroe
• Peddie High School - Hightstown
• South Brunswick High School - South Brunswick
• Saint Joseph High School - Montvale
• Union County College - Cranford
• Camden Catholic High School - Cherry Hill
• Johnson High School - Clark
• St. Thomas Aquinas High School (formerly Bishop Ahr HS) - Edison
• Woodbridge High School - Woodbridge
• 7th & 8th Woodbridge Recreation Program - Woodbridge
• 7th & 8th Grade Old Bridge Recreation Program - Old Bridge
• Piscataway High School - Piscataway
• Spotswood High School - Spotswood
• Freehold Boro High School - Freehold Borough

Patch's first report when Denuto was indicted: Youth Wrestling Coach Charged With Child Sex Crimes (April 2021)