NJ Teacher Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Student Denied Release From Jail

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FREEHOLD, NJ — The Freehold Township High School teacher accused of sexually assaulting one of his students was denied release from jail during a recent detention hearing, court records show.

Jesse L. Heubel, 37, of Englishtown, was ordered to remain detained at the Monmouth County Jail by Judge Marc C. Lemiuex during a detention hearing held on Wednesday.

According to a report from the Asbury Park Press, one of the reasons Lemiuex denied Heubel's release was due to concern that Heubel could pose a danger to his wife and the victim should he be released from jail.

Heubel's defense attorney, Tom Carver, argued that if Heubel were to return home, he understands that he wouldn't be able to speak with his wife about the investigation, the report said.

Lemiuex, however, was skeptical of the argument as Heubel's wife is the one who turned her husband in to police, the Asbury Park Press reported.

Wouldn't it be "almost impossible" for Heubel not to speak about the case if they were under the same roof? Lemieux asked.

"Emotions could get really ugly really fast, which would have an impact on this case," he said, according to the report.

Heubel, who taught at Freehold Township High School and worked as an assistant varsity wrestling coach at Old Bridge High School, is facing charges in Freehold Township, Englishtown, Manalapan and Red Bank, which stem from the locations where the reported sexual acts took place, authorities said.

In a written statement provided to police, the victim said their relationship with Heubel began in Freehold Township High School, and that after Thanksgiving 2025, Heubel kissed the victim in a classroom after school.

From December 2025 to February 2026, court documents said Heubel “continued to kiss [the victim] on a few more occasions at school.”

In February 2026, it escalated to sexual penetration in the drama classroom after school, the affidavit said.

After that, there were incidents “in excess of 30 times between February and June 2026,” where Heubel sexually penetrated the victim, according to court documents.

One incident happened following an award ceremony in May in a Red Bank parking lot, authorities said.

In June 2026, Heubel forced himself on the victim, who “repeatedly resisted to no avail,” according to the affidavit.

There were two more incidents of sexual penetration in June in a car in Englishtown, and in July, Heubel penetrated the victim in a car parked in a Manalapan parking lot, court documents said.

On July 11, Heubel's wife reported to police that she found messages “of a sexual nature” concerning the victim and Heubel on Heubel’s phone.

After finding the messages on his phone, she recorded parts of a conversation she had with Heubel in which he admitted to having sex with the student “a few times,” court documents said. She then turned that recording over to police.

Heubel turned himself in and was brought to the Monmouth County jail pending proceedings in Monmouth County Superior Court.

According to court documents, Heubel is next due to appear in court on Sept. 21 for a pre-indictment conference.

Previous Coverage

• Teacher Sexually Assaulted Student In 4 Different NJ Communities, Prosecutor Says
• NJ Teacher Assaulted Student More Than 30 Times: Affidavit