Former Jewish Academy teacher pleads guilty to endangering the welfare of a child

Menachem Chinn

A former teacher at the Shalom Torah Academy in Monmouth County pleaded guilty Friday morning in Mercer County Superior Court to two counts of second-degree of endangering the welfare of a child.

Menachem A. Chinn, 40, admitted to touching the genitals of one victim at his home in East Windsor. He also admitted to having a second victim touch his genitals at the Shalom Torah Academy while he was a teacher.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, Chinn would receive a five-year suspended prison sentence. He will also be sentenced to parole supervision for life and will have to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law. He will be barred from teaching and will be ordered to have no unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18. He also will be required to undergo a psychological evaluation and comply with any and all prescribed treatment. Sentencing is scheduled for October 13.

Two victims stepped forward this spring to say they were sexually assaulted by the East Windsor man, who taught at the Shalom Torah Academy Marlboro Township and also led a youth group.

One victim, who is now an adult, said Chinn had inappropriate sexual contact with him at Chinn’s residence numerous times between July 2010 and May 2011. Chinn had previously been the victim’s teacher and youth group religious mentor.