Former Somerset County coach, teacher enters guilty plea stemming from failure to report child sexual abuse
SOMERVILLE, NJ (Somerset County) – A former Somerset County teacher, and coach entered a guilty plea on May 10 to an amended disorderly persons offense of failure to report child abuse, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.
Ranait Griff, 30, of South Orange, upon entering a guilty plea, admitted that she knew a student at a private educational institution in Franklin Township, Somerset County was involved in a relationship with another teacher and that she did not report it, McDonald said.
The plea agreement involves probation and a stipulation that Griff will no longer teach or coach anyone under the age of 18, McDonald said.
Matthew Rennie, 29, Ringoes was arrested on Oct. 6, 2021, after a 17-year-old girl reported to Franklin Township Police that she was sexually assaulted by teacher and coach Rennie, who was employed at a private educational institution in Franklin Township, McDonald said.
The teen was interviewed by detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit and Franklin Township Police Department. As a result of this investigation, the victim disclosed incidents that occurred in Montgomery Township and East Amwell Township (Hunterdon County) from July 2021 to September 2021, McDonald said.
As a result of this investigation, Griff, a teacher and coach at the same school was aware of the sexual relationship. She was arrested by detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit and the Franklin Township Police Department without incident at the Franklin Township Police Department, McDonald siad.
Rennie was indicted for second-degree sexual assault, third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and fourth-degree failure to report child sexual abuse, McDonald said.
Rennie entered a guilty plea to the charges on May 6, 2022 and was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending an evaluation. After a hearing on the results of that evaluation was held, he was scheduled for sentence, McDonald said.
On March 17, Rennie was sentenced to four years in New Jersey State Prison. He is subject to the registration and reporting requirement of Megan’s Law and the conditions of Parole Supervision for Life. He is prohibited from teaching or coaching anyone under the age of 18 and must continue psychotherapy, McDonald said.
Anyone with information relating to the sexual assault to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes Unit 908-231-7100 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
