New Jersey Equestrian Trainer Faces Charges of Sexually Assaulting Teen Rider

A 55-year-old equestrian trainer who worked across multiple Morris County, New Jersey stables as a riding coach and clinician was arrested in late March on felony charges alleging the repeated sexual assault of a 16-year-old student.

The Morris County Prosecutor's Office charged the defendant with second-degree sexual assault, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, possession of child sexual abuse material, and controlled substance counts. Investigators allege the incidents began in December 2025. The defendant was arrested and held pending further court proceedings; the case will advance through New Jersey's criminal courts, where second-degree charges carry substantial criminal exposure.

The investigation ran for months before culminating in the March 31 arrest. According to prosecutors, the investigation uncovered alleged electronic exchanges of explicit images involving the minor. A search of the defendant's premises also recovered controlled substances and ammunition, contributing to the breadth of charges filed.

The defendant's history as a coach and clinician across several regional stables immediately widened the scope of concern beyond a single facility. In the days following the arrest, multiple area equestrian programs began auditing staff screening procedures, supervisory protocols, and mechanisms for reporting suspected misconduct.

The case exposes a structural gap that equestrian safety advocates have long flagged. Riding lessons, youth clinics, and summer apprenticeships routinely place minors in close, often isolated settings with coaches who may move between facilities without triggering centralized vetting. National governing bodies overseeing Olympic equestrian disciplines have adopted SafeSport-style mandatory reporting frameworks, but independent riding programs and regional barns frequently operate outside those oversight structures entirely.

For facilities now re-examining their own practices, the baseline safeguards that youth-sports safety experts consistently identify include criminal background checks run through national databases before hire, a two-adult supervisory rule that prevents any coach from being alone with a minor, and clearly posted reporting channels accessible to both students and parents.

The Morris County Prosecutor's Office has asked anyone with information about this case to contact Mendham Township Detectives directly. Arraignment scheduling and potential grand jury action are expected as the investigation proceeds.