A former teacher and mother of two admitted to engaging in sex with a 15-year-old boy. Allison Havemann-Niedrach, 45, a former Freehold Intermediate School teacher, exchanged more than 25,000 text messages over the course of six months with the student, authorities said.
The mum could now face 12 years behind bars. Havemann-Niedrach of Jackson pleaded guilty to a single charge of aggravated sexual assault before Judge Jill G. O'Malley. She exchanged messages with the teenager in early 2024 but stopped after she was arrested in June that year.
Her teaching certificates have already been revoked. Prosecutors are seeking a 12-year prison sentence, of which she would be required to serve 85%, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago said Thursday.
Authorities are also requesting additional penalties, including lifetime supervision and mandatory sex offender registration.
Havemann-Niedrach sentencing has been scheduled for May 7. Last March, Havemann-Niedrach faced seven criminal charges, including aggravated sexual assault, official misconduct, sexual assault, and several counts of endangering the welfare of a child, including one related to the creation of child sexual abuse material.
The remaining charges will be dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Police began investigating the New Jersey teacher in June 2024 after the school's vice principal alerted authorities to alleged inappropriate contact, including seeing her rub the victim's back.
Another teacher reported witnessing Havemann-Niedrach allegedly flirting with the student and touching his leg. Around the same time, the boy allegedly told friends he was dating the married Ocean County teacher from Jackson.
According to court documents, the victim later denied any wrongdoing when questioned by police, claiming he was dating the teacher's daughter and insisting no inappropriate conduct had occurred.
Investigators said that thousands of text messages found on the boy's phone contradicted his statements.
The victim told investigators that he had sex with the teacher at her home and in hotels, claims investigators said were corroborated by cellphone data and financial records, according to Zanzuccki. A video depicting the two engaged in sexual activity was also discovered during a forensic examination of their cellphones, she said.
Havemann-Niedrach was arrested on June 26, 2024.
Authorities are urging anyone with further information about this defendant's activities to call the Special Victims Bureau at 800-533-7443.
