Our community was shaken this week by news of serious criminal charges against a local college administrator. James Hadley, a 66-year-old Barnegat resident who serves as Dean of the School of Business and Social Services at Ocean County College, was arrested Friday, March 13, on multiple charges related to the alleged sexual exploitation of a child.
According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, Hadley traveled to Pleasantville with the intent to meet a child for sexual purposes. Instead, he encountered detectives from the Pleasantville Police Department and the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit, who placed him under arrest.
The investigation revealed disturbing allegations. Authorities say Hadley had previously met with the child on at least two prior occasions, engaging in sexual acts for which he paid the child. These findings led prosecutors to file multiple serious charges against the college administrator.
Hadley now faces charges of sexual assault, luring a minor to commit a sexual act, endangering the welfare of a child, and criminal sexual contact. Each of these charges carries significant legal consequences and reflects the severity of the alleged crimes.
Beyond his role at Ocean County College, Hadley also works as an adjunct professor at Kean University, according to his professional profile. The arrest has sent ripples through both educational institutions and the broader community they serve.
Ocean County College has been contacted for comment regarding Hadley's employment status and any actions the institution plans to take in response to these charges. As of Monday, March 16, when the prosecutor's office announced the arrest, no official statement had been released by the college.
This case underscores the ongoing efforts by local law enforcement to protect vulnerable children in our community. The collaboration between the Pleasantville Police Department and the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit demonstrates the priority our region places on investigating and prosecuting crimes against minors.
As this case moves forward through the legal system, our thoughts remain with the young victim at the center of these allegations. The charges filed represent allegations, and Hadley is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
