Popular Middletown North Coach Gets 5 1/2 Years For Sleeping With Teen Girl

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Justin McGhee, the former head coach of the Middletown High School North girls’ basketball team, was sentenced Friday to 5 1/2 years in prison for having a sexual relationship with an underage female student at North.

In November, McGhee pleaded guilty to second-degree aggravated sexual assault, Patch previously reported.

McGhee, 36, was arrested by Middletown Police in January 2025, after he was accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with a Middletown High School North female student under the age of 18. McGhee admitted to investigators he initiated a sexual relationship with the teenage girl when she was between the ages of 16 and 17.

The Asbury Park Press, which was in the courtroom for his sentencing, reported McGhee sent the teen girl "thousands" of text messages, effectively grooming her in the months leading up to their first encounter, the Monmouth County Prosecutor said. The first time they had intercourse was on Dec. 12, 2024, when McGhee sent the girl a late-night text message asking her to pick him up from a Jersey Shore bar. After she arrived, McGhee got into the back seat of her car and had intercourse with her.

A second encounter took place in January 2025, in the basement of his home.

McGhee lives in Ocean Township.

McGhee was not only the North girls' basketball coach; he was also a health/gym teacher and an assistant boys' football coach at Middletown North. He was reportedly popular among students and parents, who praised his coaching skills. He was named "Coach of the Year" in Middletown three times. The courtroom was packed Friday with his supporters, the APP reported.

He must forfeit all future public employment, register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law and be on parole supervision for life. McGhee is banned from any future contact with the victim and forever banned from Middletown school property.

According to the affidavit of this case, it was in December 2024 that a Middletown Police detective first received a report that McGhee was having an inappropriate relationship with a student. However, that allegation did not name the student.

Then, on Jan. 26 that same detective received another report, this time an email from a Middletown school official, alleging McGhee had inappropriate contact with a student.

After the second allegation was made, Middletown Police also discovered a report of an incident flagged as suspicious by police in another town (unnamed), where police found McGhee with a teenage girl in a car after midnight. Middletown Police then interviewed the girls' parents and then the girl herself, who told police she and her teacher had been involved in a relationship that turned sexual, according to the affidavit.

Immediately after McGhee's arrest, he was placed on paid administrative leave by the Middletown school district. He then quit the school district in March of this year.

Since he quit, McGhee no longer receives health benefits from the Middletown school district, and he does not have the years of service to be eligible for a pension, Middletown school superintendent Jessica Alfone previously said.

Prior Patch reporting on the criminal charges against Justin McGhee:

Middletown North Basketball Coach Charged With Sex Assault Of Student (Jan. 2025)

Middletown Police Notified Twice Of Allegations Against Teacher (January 2025)

Middletown Coach Accused Of Sex Assault Quit, Not Eligible For Pension (March 2025)