Monroe Man Charged With Hitting On Student Takes Plea Deal – Manalapan, NJ Patch

MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ — A high school English teacher who lives in Monroe, and was accused of telling a female student “I want to make love to you,” has now taken a plea deal to avoid a conviction, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said Monday.

Joseph Pedulla, 57, a Monroe Township resident, used to be an English teacher at Millburn High School in Millburn. He was arrested this past June on a charge of endangering the welfare of a child and was placed on leave from the school.

“I can confirm he was admitted into Pretrial Intervention (PTI), a diversionary program, for a period of 24 months on one count of fourth-degree stalking and one count of fourth-degree cruelty and neglect of a child. He will be expected to follow a host of conditions,” said Katherine Carter, a spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Those conditions are that Pedulla must give up his teaching license. He also can’t contact the girl or her family and must undergo mental health evaluations.

According to a report in the Bergen County Record, he had taught the female student during her freshman and sophomore years at Millburn High. She would sometimes stop by his office to talk about theater arts. Last year, when she was no longer his student, he allegedly texted the 17-year-old using Whatasapp and another app. According to news reports, she became concerned when the messages became more inappropriate. Then, he stopped by a classroom she was in and allegedly said, “I want to make love to you.”

If he successfully completes the pre-trial intervention, he will not have a conviction on any charge.

According to the Record, he had taught in the district for over 20 years.