New Jersey college dean charged with child sexual assault, suspended from position
An Ocean County College dean and Kean University adjunct instructor was arrested and charged with sexual assault of a minor on Monday, according to local authorities.
James Hadley, 66, of Barnegat, New Jersey, was charged with second-degree sexual assault of a victim under the age of 16, second-degree luring a minor to commit a sexual act, third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact based on at least three incidents in March, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
Prosecutors said Hadley travelled to Pleasantville, New Jersey, on Friday to meet the child to engage in a sexual act. Hadley was arrested by detectives from the Pleasantville Police Department and the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office's Special Victims Unit before he could meet with the child.
Investigators said Hadley had met the minor at least two other times to engage in sexual acts that he paid the child to perform.
CBS News Philadelphia spoke with a family member of the child connected to the case on the condition of anonymity, who said the suspect first contacted the boy online. The family member said relatives discovered messages between the suspect and the child on the boy's phone and contacted police.
CBS News Philadelphia is trying to determine whether Hadley has an attorney and to reach out for a response.
Ocean County College President Pamela J. Monaco said Hadley was suspended from his role as dean at the school and restricted from the campus. The college will cooperate with law enforcement and has no record of complaints or reports about his conduct at the school, Monaco said in an email to CBS News Philadelphia.
A spokesperson for Kean University said Hadley's contract as an adjunct instructor at Kean Ocean was terminated Monday after officials learned of his arrest.
Hadley was also a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal and Northern New Jersey for a time in 2019, according to Executive Director William Salcedo.
"His match lasted approximately seven months and was closed at that time due to reported serious health concerns. He has not been involved with our agency in any capacity since then and has not re-enrolled in the program," Salcedo said in an email.
The organization is reviewing its records out of an abundance of caution, Salcedo said.
The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor's Office Website at ACPO.Tips to leave an anonymous tip.