A Monmouth County jury is weighing the fate of 59-year-old former gymnastics coach Sasha C. Superior Court Judge Jill Grace O’Malley is presiding over the trial in Freehold, where prosecutors argue the defendant abused his supervisory and disciplinary authority, while defense counsel points to the state’s timeline regarding the age of consent.
Monmouth County Trial Centers on Supervisory Power and Age of Consent
The state alleges that Raught used his position as a gymnastics coach to carry on sexual relationships with three teenage victims, according to assistant Monmouth County prosecutor Joseph Competello. Two of the alleged assaults occurred in the early 1990s at Shrewsbury Gymnastics, while the third took place in 2008 when Raught worked for Jonas Gymnastics in Marlboro, as detailed in court records. Prosecutors argue that the victims had the mindset of children while looking up to a grown man in authority.
Under New Jersey law, the age of consent for sexual activity is 16. However, that age rises to 18 if the older individual holds a position of supervisory or disciplinary authority over the minor. Defense attorney Daniel Holzapfel argued during closing arguments on September 15, 2026, that jurors must examine the precise dates of the alleged activity. Holzapfel contended that if the events occurred after the dates claimed by the state, the victims would have reached the legal age of consent.
The defense specifically pointed to one accuser who had already left Raught’s gymnastics team, arguing that no supervisory authority existed at that time and noting that the relationship was common knowledge. In response, prosecutors highlighted physical and digital evidence presented to the jury, including topless photographs of a victim locked in a safe and video recordings of sexual activity entered into the court record.
Evidence and Testimony Scrutinized by Jury
During closing arguments, prosecutors walked the jury through specific recollections from the witnesses testifying about events that occurred decades ago. Competello noted that one victim was certain she was 15 when the relationship began and recalled specific details, including the song playing at the time, “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men. Competello told the jury that the encounters represented a severe abuse of power that the defendant used to advance his own sexual interests.
The defense challenged the timeline of the allegations, questioning how witnesses could accurately recall the exact months of events dating back to 1993 and 2008. The jury began deliberations to determine whether Raught is guilty of the charges brought against him.
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