South Jersey Skate Coach Groomed, Sexually Assaulted Teen Student: Prosecutor

MAYS LANDING, NJ — A long-time South Jersey skating center coach is accused of grooming and sexually abusing one of his teenage students in the 1990s, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said.

Ralph Marinelli, now 75, was charged with sexual assault of a minor between 13 and 16 years of age and sexual assault of a minor between 16 and 17 years of age when the defendant had a supervisory role over the minor, officials said.

Marinelli, a Ventnor resident, serves as a personal skating coach at Young's Skating Center in Mays Landing.

The months-long investigation began when a woman, now in her late 40s, came forward to the United States Center for SafeSport, a nonprofit organization set up to reduce sexual abuse of minors and athletes in the United States. The organization forwarded the report to local law enforcement in Atlantic County.

She said that Marinelli was her personal skating coach for years. When she was 14 and Marinelli was 40, a relationship developed between the two, officials said.

During the course of that relationship, authorities allege that Marinelli groomed and sexually abused his student. This lasted throughout her teenage years, about 1992 to 1995, officials said.

Police said they collected "numerous pieces of corroborating evidence," including photos of the two together, greeting cards, letters and gifts Marinelli had given his student.

The woman had also kept a detailed, dated, handwritten journal describing her various memories with Marinelli, including sexual abuse, authorities said.

Multiple witnesses also came forward to corroborate the allegations, authorities said.

Three recorded calls were conducted between Marinelli and his accuser where their past relationship was discussed, officials said.

During an in-person conversation between the two, their sexual relationship was discussed and Marinelli said "it should not have happened," authorities said. At the meeting's conclusion, Marinelli gave her $500 in cash and old skating mementos, officials said.

Marinelli was charged on a warrant and released on his own recognizance.

The prosecutor's office had Marinelli released on pretrial monitoring level three, where he must check in weekly, alternating phone calls and in-person visits.

However, the prosecutor's office's request for Marinelli to be prevented from continuing to work at Young's Skating Center was denied, authorities said. Instead, the court ordered that if his employment is terminated, he will be banned from returning while charges are pending.

Marinelli's pre-indictment conference is set for Aug. 12, where the prosecutor's office says it may request additional conditions as officials are concerned about him having continued access to minors at the skating center.