Crime & Safety

Barnegat Woman Sent To Prison After Admitting Sexual Relationship With Boy, 15

A 32-year-old Barnegat woman and former Toms River Regional schoolteacher who admitted that she had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old boy has been sentenced to six years in state prison.

Erin T. Haskell, who was free on $300,000 cash bail, was immediately remanded to prison authorities to begin serving her sentence.

Haskell pleaded guilty last year to a charge of second degree sexual assault before Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson.

Dressed neatly in a gray skirt and jacket, Haskell appeared in court in August and timidly responded “yes” to several questions asked by Hodgson as well as her attorney, Bradley Billhimer during the five minute-long proceeding.

Haskell admitted to having sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old minor, identified only by his initials, between June 2012 and Sept. 2012. The sexual activities occurred in both Beachwood, where she taught and Barnegat, her hometown.

Prosecutors said at the hearing that they would seek a seven year-long prison term for Haskell. Billhimer said he would ask for three.

As part of the plea agreement, Hodgson said, Haskell will have to register as a sex offender under Meghan’s Law for life, and she will remain under lifetime parole supervision. She will also relinquish her teaching license at sentencing.

Haskell, who taught at Intermediate School South in Beachwood, was charged in Nov. 2012 with having an inappropriate relationship with one of her students, then-prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford said at the time.

She was originally charged with aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and exhibiting obscene material to a minor.

State pension records showed Haskell having worked as a Spanish teacher with a masters degree and eight years experience at the time her employment was suspended by the Toms River Regional school district. Her salary at the time was $54,800.

The case was investigated by Detective Melissa Matthews of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and Sgt. Glen DeMarco of the Beachwood Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Kristin L. Pressman.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.