By: Tracie Carter
Somerset County officials reported that Ranait Griff, a former teacher and coach, entered a guilty plea to an amended disorderly person's offense of failure to report explicit contact with a minor.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that defendant Griff upon entering a guilty plea, admitted that she knew a student at a private educational institution in Franklin Township was involved in a relationship with another teacher and did not report it.
The plea agreement involves probation and a stipulation that defendant Griff will no longer teach or coach anyone under the age of 18. Prosecutor McDonald said Matthew Rennie was arrested on October 6, 2021, after a 17-year-old female victim reported to Franklin Township Police that she was sexually assaulted by teacher/coach Matthew Rennie, who was employed at a private educational institution in Franklin Township.
The victim 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.
Prosecutor John P. McDonald also determined that Ranait Griff, a female teacher/coach at the same school, was aware of the sexual relationship.
Detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes Unit and the Franklin Township Police Department arrested Griff without incident at the Franklin Township Police Department.
Defendant Rennie was indicted for 2nd-degree Sexual Assault and 3rd-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
Prosecutor McDonald said Griff was indicted for 4th-degree Failure to Report Explicit Contact with a minor.
Officials 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, the defendant was scheduled for sentence.
On March 17, 2023, defendant 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.
Defendant Rennie is prohibited from teaching or coaching anyone under the age of 18 and must continue psychotherapy.