Former Teacher, Coach Admits To Sex Assault With Student In Mercer County

TRENTON, NJ — A former Trenton teacher and basketball coach admitted to sexual assault of a student, said Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey.

Darrell R. Moody, 52, of Plainfield, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree sexual assault on Tuesday.

Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend Moody be sentenced to five years in state prison subject to the No Early Release Act and required to undergo an evaluation at the state Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Avenal.

He will also be sentenced to parole supervision for life and will have to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law.

Additionally, Moody will surrender any teaching certifications he has and forfeit public employment.

In May 2024, the victim reported to Trenton police the sexual assaults that began when the victim was in middle school.

Detectives said they learned that the victim met Moody when Moody was teaching fifth grade at Parker Elementary School.

Moody sexually assaulted the victim over the course of several years, beginning in middle school and continuing to high school, according to authorities.

During that time, Moody was also coaching basketball at Joyce
Kilmer Middle School.

At the time of his plea, Moody admitted that between September 2013 and February 2014, he was a teacher at Parker Elementary School, and he engaged in sexual contact with the victim on numerous dates when the victim was his student.

Moody is also pending sentencing in a June 2023 Middlesex County case where he was charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and second-degree solicitation of a minor for prostitution.

Moody is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 4.

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