37-year-old teacher, who indecently assaulted two of her teenage students on multiple occasions and sent explicit photos to one of the boys, pleads guilty

The charges stem from two separate relationships Rizzitello maintained with male students — both of whom were teenagers at the time of the abuse — with one relationship beginning in 2017 and another as recently as April 2024. In both cases, prosecutors say Rizzitello used her position as a teacher to initiate and sustain se-ual contact with the students, a violation of not only school policies but also of ethical and legal standards. According to court documents and law enforcement officials, Rizzitello’s criminal behavior occurred across three municipalities and spanned several years. The first victim told investigators the abuse began while he was still under Rizzitello’s instruction in 2017 and continued through 2018. Years later, in the spring of 2024, another student reported that he too had been involved in a se-ual relationship with her, one that also involved the exchange of explicit images.

After having se- for the first time in April 2024, that student received photographs from Rizzitello. When the investigation into her conduct began, he allowed investigators to search his phone. What they found, according to a probable cause affidavit, were numerous se-ually charged messages and photos exchanged between him and the former teacher. Rizzitello’s arrest came in July 2024, shortly after she resigned from her position at the high school. But the investigation did not stop there. Just weeks after her resignation, authorities uncovered her previous relationship with the second student, who described repeated instances of se-ual contact during his time at the school.

Further complicating her legal standing was an additional charge of witness tampering. Investigators discovered that Rizzitello had contacted one of the victims on July 2, 2024 — just before her arrest — urging him to delete the explicit messages and photographs she had sent. This attempt to obstruct justice was cited as part of her initial charges. Originally, Rizzitello faced a total of six charges: two counts of se-ual assault, three counts of criminal se-ual contact, and one count of witness tampering. As part of her plea agreement, she pleaded guilty to the se-ual assault charges while the remaining counts were dropped.

Police Chief S. O’Halloran described the case as a profound violation of professional and ethical duty. He said the former teacher’s actions were not only a betrayal of her victims but also a betrayal of the entire school community. He praised the victims for coming forward and thanked the investigative team for their persistent work on the case. The state has recommended a sentence of 10 years in state prison, along with mandatory registration as a se- offender under Megan’s Law, lifetime parole supervision, and permanent forfeiture of public office. Sentencing is set for January 9, 2026. Rizzitello, who began teaching English in 2013 and once earned a $62,000 annual salary, will now likely spend the next decade behind bars — a stark fall from her once-respected role in education.