Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey announced today that a former Dunellen Recreation Director and ex-Middlesex County College Men’s basketball coach has been sentenced to serve 52 years in prison for engaging in multiple sexual acts with children, possessing child pornography, and official misconduct.
Officials said Christopher Tarver, 47, of Jackson Township was sentenced to serve an aggregate sentence of 52 years in a New Jersey state prison. Tarver must serve 25 years before he is eligible for parole.
Superior Court Judge Colleen M. Flynn, sitting in New Brunswick ordered Tarver to register as a Megan’s Law sex offender and ordered that the defendant be placed on parole supervision for life upon his release from prison.
In addition, Judge Flynn ordered a restraining order prohibiting the defendant, or anyone else on his behalf, to contact the victims or their families in any manner. Tarver is also barred from holding any future public employment.
Authorities said on November 15, 2017, after a five-week sexual assault trial Tarver was found guilty by a jury on 20 counts which included 8 counts of endangering the welfare of a child, one count of engaging in a pattern of official misconduct, one count of sexual assault, 5 counts of criminal sexual contact, 4 counts of official misconduct, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child by possessing child pornography.
During the investigation it was determined that between June 1, 2010 and December 31, 2011, when Tarver was a coach and recreation director he engaged in multiple sexual acts with a child in Edison, Dunellen, and Atlantic City. When the crimes were committed, Tarver had supervisory power and the legal duty or responsibility for the care of the victim who was under 18 years of age. He was also found in possession of child pornography in Jackson Township during the execution of a search warrant.
According to officials, Tarver also pleaded guilty on February 22, 2018, under an open plea agreement reached with Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Brian Shevlin to four remaining counts in the indictment. The counts
included endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct, two counts of official misconduct, and one count of engaging in a pattern of official misconduct.
The 28-year sentence Tarver received for the charges in the plea agreement is to run concurrent to the 52-year sentence he received for his 2017 trial conviction.
Authorities said Tarver was arrested and charged during an investigation by Sgt. Frank DiNinno and Sgt. Karleen Duca of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.