A former New Jersey middle school teacher accused of becoming “obsessed” with a 15-year-old student and sexually abusing him for months has been sentenced to 12 years behind bars.
Allison Havemann-Niedrach, 45, a mother of two from Jackson Township, was sentenced Friday, Aug. 28, after pleading guilty to first-degree aggravated sexual assault, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
The former special education teacher at Freehold Intermediate School will be required to serve at least 85% of her 12-year sentence before she can become eligible for parole.
The victim addressed the court during the emotional sentencing hearing and described how the abuse continued to affect his life years later.
He said he struggled after other students at his high school learned what had happened.
“For two or three years, I thought it was my fault,” the teen told the court, according to the Asbury Park Press.
Despite everything he endured, the teenager said he had forgiven his former teacher.
Havemann-Niedrach reportedly began sobbing when she heard his words.
She later apologized “profusely” for her actions and told the court she was moved by the teenager’s forgiveness.
But Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Jill G. O’Malley delivered a devastating message to the former teacher.
“You are his trauma. You ruined him,” the judge told Havemann-Niedrach, according to the Daily Voice.
The judge also said the teenager had experienced suicidal thoughts during the summer of 2024.
Prosecutors said Havemann-Niedrach began grooming the student in the fall of 2023.
She allegedly attended his sporting events, bought him gifts and gave him a sex toy.
Her increasingly close relationship with the teenager eventually began raising concerns among other school employees.
One teacher told authorities she had seen Havemann-Niedrach rubbing the boy’s neck and back, touching his leg and appearing to flirt with him.
Investigators also discovered an enormous amount of communication between the teacher and student.
Assistant Prosecutor Danielle Zanzuccki said in court in 2024 that investigators found approximately 25,000 text messages between the two.
The teenager had even reportedly told a friend that he and Havemann-Niedrach were dating.
“I would submit that she’s obsessed with this child,” Zanzuccki said at the time.
The situation came to authorities’ attention in June 2024, when a vice principal contacted police.
The boy’s mother had also become suspicious after noticing changes in her son.
His sister reportedly told their mother she had seen him inside his teacher’s car, while the teenager was also spending long periods on his phone late at night.
The boy initially denied that anything inappropriate was happening.
He later told his mother that he had been involved in a sexual relationship with Havemann-Niedrach.
Authorities said the sexual abuse began in January 2024 and continued for approximately six months.
The teenager told investigators that he and the teacher met at hotels and at Havemann-Niedrach’s home.
An investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Bureau and Freehold Borough Police Department ultimately led to Havemann-Niedrach’s arrest in June 2024.
She was initially charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
In January 2026, Havemann-Niedrach pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault.
Now, more than two years after her arrest, the former teacher has been ordered to spend 12 years in state prison.
Why the hell does a 45 year old woman need to be with a 15 year old? It doesn’t make sense…
For the same reason a 45 year old man wants to be with a 15 year old girl. To relive an earlier stage in their life.
And people don’t want to hear about God and His commandments